Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
Published on: January 7, 2019
Suicidal Ideation and Electroconvulsive Therapy: Outcomes in Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder
Haipeng Cai1, Ruonan Du2, Jiaqi Song1
1From the Beijing Huilongguan Hospital.
Objective:
Few studies on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) investigate efficacy and safety on depressive adolescents with strong suicidal ideation. Our study examined adolescents (aged 13-18 years) with major depressive disorder to explore ECT effectiveness in improving suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms, as well as its impact on cognitive function.
Methods:
This nonrandomized controlled trial enrolled 183 adolescent patients suffering from major depressive disorder. The ECT group (n = 81) was treated with antidepressants and 8 rounds of ECT for 2 weeks. The control group comprised 79 patients treated with antidepressants only. Depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and cognitive functions were assessed at baseline (pre-ECT) and at 2 and 6 weeks post-ECT.
Results:
The ECT group showed significant improvements over control in suicidal ideation from the end of treatment to 6 weeks after ( P < 0.001). Depressive symptoms also improved ( P < 0.001). Patients treated with ECT demonstrated poorer performance in delayed memory, attention, and language, but these impairments were transient. Thus, ECT was generally safe in adolescent patients with major depressive disorder.
Conclusions:
Our findings verified ECT as effective and safe for improving suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms of adolescent patients with major depressive disorder. In addition, partially impaired cognitive function recovered gradually after ECT.
Related Concept Videos
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview

