Abstract
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a world-wide used method of treatment of selected severe or treatment-resistant psychiatric states. In spite of its effectiveness and irreplaceability in some situation in psychiatry and despite the fact that ECT is nowadays associated with low level of side effects, the method is stigmatized by general public.
The article summarizes possible side effects of this treatment method related to cognitive functions. Particular cognitive domains, which could be disturbed due to this treatment, are mentioned in detail.
The authors list so far known neurobiological bases of cognitive side effects of ECT. The attention is also paid to the factors, which can influence the occurrence of these side effects and possible ways of optimalization of this method, which could lead to minimalization of cognitive side effects are summarized.