Effectiveness of short term acute electroconvulsive therapy at three Brazilian sites: an observational cohort study

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains a target of prejudice, and finding places to administer it remains a challenge. The main reason for the recommendation of ECT is its effectiveness, especially when compared with other treatments for severe and refractory patients.

This study aimed to assess the response rates across a broader patient sample undergoing ECT in three distinct Brazilian states.

This observational cohort study was conducted at the following three sites: Universidade Federal do Tocantins (by partnership with Hospital Geral de Palmas, Palmas-TO), Pax Instituto de Psiquiatria (Goiânia - GO), and Clínica Animus (Joao Pessoa - PB).

A total of 212 patients who received ECT at three different Brazilian services were assessed for improvement in symptoms in the first week after treatment and 30 and 60 days after treatment completion.

Safety and efficacy of ECT was well established, as evidenced by the zero mortality rate among the study participants, with side effects observed in only 10.5% of cases. The immediate response rate was impressive at 95.8%, and the response rate after 30 and 60 days was 90.6% and 87.7%, respectively. The regression analysis highlighted session frequency as a key determinant of positive responses.

The effectiveness of short term ECT (two months) is one of the greatest among psychiatric treatments. Future research should focus on predictive models for treatment responses to enable personalized approaches.