Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Treatment for Depression
Typical Dosage: Individualized, based on seizure threshold
Effectiveness
90%
Safety Score
40%
Clinical Trials
170
Participants
35K
Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)
Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
40
DangerousModerateSafe
Treatment Details
Dosage Range
Individualized, based on seizure threshold
Time to Effect
1-2 weeks
Treatment Duration
Acute course: 6-12 sessions over 3-6 weeks; Maintenance: variable
Evidence Quality
HIGHNumber Needed to Treat (NNT)
3(Treat 3 patients to see 1 additional successful outcome)
Confidence Score
95%confidence in effectiveness data
Health Economics
Annual Cost of Care
Drug Cost:$0
Monitoring:$25,000
Side Effect Mgmt:$500
Total Annual:$25,500
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
Cost-Effectiveness Rating
GOODICER
$80,000/QALY
QALYs Gained
0.7
Outcome-Based Costs
Cost per Responder
$31,875
Cost per Remission
$42,500
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Outcomes
for Depression
Efficacy Outcomes
Overall Effectiveness
+90%
Response Rate
+80%
Remission Rate
+60%
Common Side Effects
Memory loss (retrograde & anterograde)
+50%
Headache
+35%
Nausea
+20%
Muscle aches
+15%
Confusion post-treatment
+15%
Sources:
WARNING: LIMITED TRIALS AVAILABLE
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Active Clinical Trials
4 active trials recruiting for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) in Depression
Treatment Response In ECT Patients
NCT07463911ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING
65 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Denizli, Turkey (Türkiye)
Started: May 20, 2025
Prospective Assessment of Cost-effectiveness and Side-effects of Depressive Patients Treated With ECT or TCA
NCT05306184ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING
220 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Amsterdam, Netherlands +1 more
Started: Jan 1, 2022
Maintenance TMS in Treatment Resistant Depression
NCT06682299RECRUITINGNA
30 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Lexington, United States
Started: Apr 17, 2025
Optimizing Stimulation Parameters for Electroconvulsive Therapy
NCT07561307NOT YET RECRUITINGNA
64 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Philadelphia, United States
Started: Jul 1, 2026
Completed Clinical Trials
12 completed trials for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) in Depression
Comparing the Effects of Four Types of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Mood and Thinking in People With Depression
NCT00487500COMPLETEDPHASE4
180 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
New York, United States
Started: Dec 1, 1998
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for Elderly Patients With Major Depression
NCT01559324COMPLETEDPHASE4
92 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Oslo, Norway
Started: Aug 1, 2009
Low Pulse Amplitude Focal ECT (LAP Study)
NCT02583490COMPLETEDPHASE3
11 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Evans, United States
Started: Mar 1, 2015
Cognitive Recovery After Electroconvulsive Therapy and General Anesthesia
NCT02761330COMPLETEDNA
17 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
St Louis, United States
Started: Apr 1, 2016
The Danish Neuropsychological Study of the Adverse Effects of ECT
NCT04160286COMPLETED
73 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Copenhagen, Denmark
Started: Nov 12, 2020
Focal Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression
NCT01589315COMPLETEDPHASE2, PHASE3
17 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Charleston, United States
Started: Jan 1, 2007
Ultrabrief Pulsewidth Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
NCT00870805COMPLETEDPHASE4
150 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Kogarah, Australia +2 more
Started: Jan 1, 2009
ELEKT-D: Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) vs. Ketamine in Patients With Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD)
NCT03113968COMPLETEDPHASE2, PHASE3
403 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
New Haven, United States +4 more
Started: Apr 7, 2017
Optimizing Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression
NCT00045916COMPLETEDPHASE4
340 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
St Louis, United States +3 more
Started: Feb 1, 2001
Multimodal Imaging of ECT Effects
NCT02871141COMPLETED
68 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Berlin, Germany
Started: Sep 1, 2017
The Effect on Cognition of Terminating ECT Induced Seizures With Propofol
NCT00616759COMPLETEDNA
20 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Loma Linda, United States
Started: Sep 1, 2006
Clinical Trial on Efficacy of rTMS to Improve ECT in Treatment-Resistant Depression
NCT02830399COMPLETEDNA
56 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Caen, France +2 more
Started: Jul 15, 2016
Showing 20 of 180 total trials