Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Other Neuromodulation Therapies

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been used effectively to treat severe psychiatric disorders by electrically inducing seizures. It was introduced in the United States in the 1940s and continues to gain acceptance by patients and practitioners. The process of ECT has been refined over several years to maximize constructive results while minimizing harmful side effects. Additional neuromodulator therapies, including vagus nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation, and psychosurgery, have been used to treat mental illness with varying results. This entry examines the positive attributes and adverse effects, and clinical utility of those therapies for refractory major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.