Is electroconvulsive therapy unsuitable for children and adolescents?
Baldwin, S.; Jones, Y.
Adolescence 33(131): 645-655
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-8449 PMID: 9831882 Document Number: 497686
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment option for adults with affective disorders has a long history. ECT with children and adolescents, however, has not been widely used, and no empirical studies or controlled evaluations have been conducted. A review of the literature on ECT with minors reveals that it has an unknown mechanism of action, with a domain of applicability diminished yearly by legislation, litigation, and a wide range of intervention alternatives.