I’ve had tremendous success with Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) in treating resistant depression (TRD). I’ve witnessed remarkable turnarounds, where individuals on the brink of despair have found new joy in life. Such rapid improvements are often not seen with medication alone.
Until now, there have been various theories about how ECT works in treating depression. I’ve always viewed it as a combination of increased neuroplasticity, which allows new, more adaptive connections to form quickly, and a boost in all major monoamine neurotransmitters.
However, new research published in Translational Psychiatry suggests that aperiodic brain activity might be key to the improvements we see with ECT. There’s a significant increase in this type of brain activity after patients undergo ECT, which enhances inhibitory activity in the brain, effectively “pumping the brakes” and alleviating depressive symptoms.
Unfortunately, ECT remains one of the most stigmatized and underutilized treatments in psychiatry. It’s estimated that less than 1% of those with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) receive ECT—a disheartening statistic that contributes to depression’s status as a leading cause of disability.
For patients where medications have repeatedly failed, ECT can be a life-saving treatment. There are many compelling stories of lives transformed by ECT, but the public rarely hears them. We need to create more opportunities to share these powerful success stories.