Electroconvulsive Therapy Found To Be Highly Effective In Treating Elderly Patients With Depression

Electroconvulsive therapy is simply a safe and effective curen for aged patients suffering from depression. This curen often produces amended results than successful younger patients and could trim nan request for infirmary care, according to caller investigation from örebro University.

Tor Arnison, a licensed scientist and interrogator successful objective epidemiology astatine örebro University, has conducted a registry study of much than 500 group aged 85 aliases older who person received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). These patients were compared pinch an arsenic ample group of younger patients arsenic good arsenic a group of group of nan aforesaid property who besides had slump but did not person ECT.

The results show that ECT is highly effective successful treating aged patients. Approximately eight retired of 10 patients showed improvement, and complete half made a afloat recovery. "They besides had less infirmary admissions aft curen than their peers who did not person ECT. Side effects were comparatively fewer and chiefly consisted of impermanent disorder aliases humor unit effects," says Tor Arnison.

He concludes that ECT is simply a safe and effective curen moreover among nan oldest patients - and that it often useful amended successful this group than successful younger patients.

"Advanced property successful itself does not look to beryllium an inhibitor to ECT, and terrible intelligence unwellness tin beryllium treated successfully moreover successful very aged age."

Source:

Journal reference:

Arnison, T., et al. (2025). Electroconvulsive therapy successful nan oldest-old patients pinch depression: Response and remission rates, prognostic factors, adverse events and mortality. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2025.06.013.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1064748125003811?via%3Dihub