Year: 2001 Source: Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, v.46, no.8, (October 2001), p.704-709 SIEC No: 20050176

The authors discuss the effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on suicide risk in patients with mood disorders, using a review of the available data on the short-term & long-term effects of ECT on suicide mortality among patients with mood disorders. They conclude that ECT has an acute but not a long-term beneficial effect on suicidality. They also note the significant limitations of studies in this area, which require data to be interpreted with caution. (53 refs)