Efficacy of Electroconvulsive Therapy: Is it in the BDNF Gene?

Abstract

Since its invention in 1938, electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) of the brain has had a controversial reputation, which its original name, electroshock treatment, did nothing to extenuate. Having been a common symbol of evil in psychiatry in literature and movies in the past, it continues to be seen partly as a mythical and exceptional form of treatment in the modern era of neuroscience-based psychiatry. Despite the drama and its demonstrably superior effect compared with any other medical intervention in psychotic and treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD), ECT raises negative attitudes, which are likely to persist until its rapid mechanism of action has been thoroughly elucidated. It is noteworthy that neuro stimulation treatments introduced in the 1990s, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or deep brain stimulation have not been subjected to such emotionally loaded ethical debate.