[Electroconvulsive therapy in a peripheral hospital].

The findings are reported of a retrospective study of 25 patients with a refractory depression in the restricted sense, admitted for ECT to a psychiatric department of a general hospital (Rijnstate, Arnhem). The results after ECT and the course during 2 years after the treatment were inventoried and compared with data in the literature. At discharge, 12 patients were classified as 'recovered', 9 were improved and four showed little or no change. After two years, 4 patients had died, one of them having committed suicide. Of the 22 follow-up patients 19 patients were at home: 15 could be classified as cured, 3 considered their condition improved and 4 were unchanged. Twelve were found to have had a recurrence of depression which in ten of them could be controlled with antidepressive drugs or ECT. ECT as a part of treatment of depressions may be regarded as useful and may safely be administered in a psychiatric department of a general hospital.