The Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Late-Life Psychiatric Disorders

Purpose: To review the current literature regarding the use and safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the elderly population. Recent findings: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is both a safe and effective treatment for geriatric patients with severe psychiatric illness. In an era of often inadequate or poorly tolerated pharmacologic treatments, ECT can provide life-saving treatment for depression, catatonia, movement disorders, and even mood and behavioral dysregulation in dementia syndromes. The Prolonging Remission in Depressed Elderly (PRIDE) study directed by Charles Kellner has provided clear and convincing empirical data for the use of ECT in this age group for the treatment of depression. Summary: The data for the use of ECT for the treatment of depression in the elderly and in prolonging remission is convincing. The convergence of data for the treatment of late-life catatonia is also favorable. Data regarding the use as a treatment for the core movement disorder of Parkinson’s disease is intriguing and warrants further investigation. The data for its use in other areas, particularly dementia, is less clear and a possible clinical algorithm is presented. © 2018, Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature.