Abstract
In the submitted review the authors discuss the application of electroconvulsive therapy in children and geriatric patients. With the development of new more sparing ECT techniques (second generation of apparatuses for electroconvulsive therapy, modification of preparation and anaesthesia, monitoring of the patient) the risk of this method was reduced and the possibilities to apply it also in these age groups was extended.
In both groups the same indications and contraindications apply as for the standard population. In old patients during ECT a higher efficiency was proved, a more rapid onset of the therapeutic effect, better tolerance and higher safety than in patients treated with psychopharmaceutical preparations.
The highest efficiency was described in affective disorders (maximum in delusive depression and depressive pseudodementia). In children and adolescents the results of ECT are similar as in the adult population and a higher incidence of undesirable effects was not recorded.
Despite this the application of ECT in children is exceptional (pharmacoresistent conditions, application for vital reasons).