Risk of serious medical events in patients with depression treated with electroconvulsive therapy: a propensity score-matched, retrospective cohort study
In retrospective cohort study (n=10,016, Ontario), there was no clinically significant increase in risk for serious medical events with ECT (0.25 vs. 0.33/person/year in exposed vs. unexposed group; HR 0.78; 95% CI 0.61–1.00) and risk of suicide was significantly reduced (p<0.03)
Source:
The Lancet Psychiatry
SPS commentary:
A commentary discusses the implications of this study, and its relevance to debates on the use of ECT. It notes that although the numbers are small, the data suggest potentially beneficial effects on suicide (≤5 of 5008 admissions on ECT vs. 11 of 5008 admissions unexposed group). It adds that although the findings require replication, this study does provide the field with a considerable degree of reassurance about the safety of one of the most effective treatments within psychiatry.