Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective acute
treatment for severe major depression. However, even with newer forms of ECT,
there remains a significant risk of adverse cognitive effects, particularly
memory problems.
Current theories hold that the regions that need to be
stimulated to treat the depression (the cortex) are different and separate from
the regions that result in memory problems (the hippocampus and temporal
lobes). Theoretically, a more precise form of ECT could have all of the
efficacy and few or none of the adverse cognitive side effects.