Does psychosis predict response to ECT in depressed elderly patients?

Objectives: To compare the electroconvulsive therapy response of a sample o f depressed elderly patients as a function of the presence or absence of ps ychosis. Method: Retrospective study of patients over age 65 treated with ECT at thr ee psychiatric hospitals over a three year period. Results: One hundred and eighty-nine ECT courses were administered to 135 p atients. Almost 85% of patients made a marked or moderately good response t o treatment. There was no difference in ECT response between psychotic and non-psychotic depressed patients. Conclusions: ECT should be considered as a treatment option for severe depr essive illness, regardless of depressive subtype.