Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) maintains an important position along the treatment pathway for refractory, chronic depression.  Typically ECT is reserved for more difficult to treat depressive disorders, and it has a higher rate of success than antidepressants.  The problem of ECT lies with in its high relapse rate within six months.  Continuation ECT is one solution, in which an individual elects to get treatments weekly, biweekly, or monthly, for long periods of time, to keep their depression at bay.  Often this strategy is combined with evidence-based pharmacological treatment.

Read More from the CPA (Canadian Psychiatric Association) Position paper

http://publications.cpa-apc.org/media.php?mid=978
ECT-CPA_position_paper_27-revision_1-web-EN.pdf