Hi all: I have a student in one of my classes who is clinically depressed (at one time with psychotic features), and according to him has been so since adolescence (age of onset around 15). He is now 22 and for the past 7 years he has been hospitalized twice and has been on a variety of meds, mostly SSRIs. He is not doing well. He is losing weight, cries every time we talk, is very self-deprecating, hopeless, helpless, and is beginning to engage in suicidal ideation. He is now thinking about ECT as a last resort as he is not getting better despite the meds and psychotherapy. He has been to a psychiatrist in New Orleans who supposedly specializes in ECT; this individual is telling my student that it is very helpful with minimal risks. My student is weighing the risk to benefit ratio: will he lose his memory or parts, will he lose his creative abilities, etc. etc. etc. Does anyone know of any reliable and valid research on the efficacy of ECT with depressed patients? If so, please let me know and as quickly as you can. I thank you in advance for your help. JL Edwards [EMAIL PROTECTED]
