Shock therapy is effective in preventing suicide.
A 1986 study involving 1,494 patients found no difference in suicide rates between shocked and non-shocked depressed patients. A close examination of the literature does not support the commonly held belief that ECT exerts long-range protective effects against suicide.'' 2 . Some early literature on the subject indicated brain damage was the source of the improvement. Shock treatment is effective in eradicating depression. A 1984 study showed no difference between shock and non-shock patients after 4 weeks.