Electroconvulsive Therapy for Adolescents: Review of Ongoing Concerns and Barriers

Since its introduction, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been controversial. Recently, a report by the World Health Organization called for an ECT ban for children and adolescents. This has added a new layer to consider in the debate about the ethical use of ECT. To better understand ethical concerns and attitudes toward the use of ECT in this population, and to assess whether a ban might be justified, we conducted a comprehensive literature review. Close to 75% of our analyzed papers reported agreement about ECT's effectiveness for treating a wide range of adolescent mental disorders. Almost half of the papers reported memory side effects as an ethical concern. In addition, the lack of rigorous side-effect reporting was found to be a key barrier to the ethical use of ECT in this population. We hope this review will advance our understanding of ongoing ethical concerns and barriers regarding use of ECT in adolescents.