Abstract
Electroconvulsive therapy is safe and highly effective treatment method, which uses artificial epilepsy-like seizures induced by electric current for treating major mental illnesses. However, its broader usage is hampered by its effect on cognitive functions.
Treatment efficacy and adverse effects are both affected mainly by electrodes placement and stimulus intensity relative to seizure treshold. The new method, ultrabrief stimulation, has been extensively studied recently.
The goal of this article is to summarize findings on ultrabrief stimulation effectiveness published dutiny last ten years. PubMed, Scopus and Scirus databses had been searched for articles published since 2001, which concern ultrabrief electroconvulsive therapy effectiveness in adults with depression.
According to results the high dosage ultrabrief right unilateral electroconvulsive therapy is effective treatment method for depression episode and for relapse prevention. However, onset of clinical improvement seems to be slower than in standard electroconvulsive therapy.
Ultrabrief stimulation is more effective in seizure induction.