Reducing Mortality with ECT: New Insights from a Global Meta-Analysis
- rajaduttamd
- Jan 3
- 1 min read
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has long been recognized as a powerful tool for treatment-resistant mood disorders, but its impact on long-term survival has remained a subject of clinical debate. A comprehensive new systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMJ Mental Health provides clear evidence that ECT is associated with a 30% reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality among patients with severe unipolar or bipolar depression. This protective effect was found to be remarkably consistent across multiple follow-up intervals, including 3, 6, and 12 months, suggesting that the benefits of the procedure extend well beyond the immediate treatment period.
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The study, which synthesized data from 17 longitudinal studies involving over 1.1 million individuals, also explored the complex relationship between ECT and suicide prevention. Interestingly, while ECT was associated with a significant reduction in suicide risk at the 3-month follow-up mark, this protective effect was not consistently observed at 1, 6, or 12 months. Researchers suggest this transience may be due to high relapse rates if patients do not receive continuation or maintenance therapy, or perhaps because the most severely symptomatic patients—those at the highest baseline risk—are the ones most frequently referred for ECT.
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Geographic and demographic factors also played a role in the findings, with Japan showing the largest reduction in mortality risk and Denmark the smallest. Additionally, while the mortality benefit was present for everyone, it was found to be slightly stronger in men than in women. Ultimately, the researchers conclude that ECT can be safely utilized and remains a vital intervention for those with severe depression, potentially offering life-saving benefits by improving overall functioning and biological health.
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