In the past 30 years electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was rarely applie
d in Germany mostly due to political reasons. Now ECT gains more inter
est again among psychiatrist as an effective somatic treatment for sev
ere psychoses. Non-response to antidepressive medications is considere
d as one of the major indications for ECT. However,there are only few
reports in the literature concerning the use of ECT in the treatment o
f late-life depression. Here we report on our experience with ECT trea
tment of older depressive patients (mean age 69+/-5 years) not respond
ing to different antidepressants before ECT. There was a marked clinic
al improvement in 9 of the 12 (75%) cases (reduction of the Hamilton D
epression Score to less than 50%). The only serious complication occur
ring in the sample was a transient cardiac conduction delay. Our exper
ience show that ECT is a safe treatment also for late-life depression,
which should be applied more often to avoid chronification of depress
ion.