Electroconvulsive therapy in the elderly: an experiential report.

In this anecdotal account, the author finds electroconvulsive therapy to be a safe and effective treatment in depressed elderly patients, particularly those with histories of recurrent depressive episodes who fail to respond to good medication management. He reports that the use of ECT at Brawner Psychiatric Institute resulted in shorter hospitalization, decreased morbidity, and more cost-effective care in this patient population.