Many experts urge that ECT be used earlier in the course of major depression, although most insurers or HMOs will not pay for early treatment. ECT may be beneficial for patients who cannot, for any reason take antidepressant drugs, for suicidal patients, and for elderly patients who are psychotic and depressed. The only side effect reported is a mild headache. It appears not to cause seizures, memory lapses, or impaired thinking. One recent study found that after one year relapse rates were significantly lower after TMS than after ECT, although only a few, small studies have been conduced using this procedure.
Studies now indicate that it is best performed immediately after wakening in the morning.
Side effects include headache, eye strain, and irritability, although these symptoms tend to disappear within a week. Patients should by examined by an ophthalmologist before undergoing this treatment. Cingulotomy A surgical technique called cingulotomy interrupts the cingulate gyrus, a bundle of nerve fibers in the front of the brain, by applying heat or cold. Larger studies are required to confirm this result. All rights reserved.