What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Meta-Analysis. Population: Major depressive disorder (MDD) (n=1617). Intervention: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) vs. Different age groups. Primary outcome: Symptomatic improvement (HAMD, MADRS, HAMA, MMSE, and WMS scores).

What does this research mean for the field?

Electroconvulsive therapy effectively treats major depressive disorder across all age groups, with older patients (>60 years) experiencing significantly greater improvements in depressive symptoms and recognition memory. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess and compare the therapeutic effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and cognitive function across different age groups in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

September 1, 2026Depression and AnxietyOpen Access

ECT improves depressive symptoms across all ages, with greater benefit in patients over 60.

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Why the study?

This study aimed to compare symptomatic improvement in patients with major depressive disorder across different age groups following electroconvulsive therapy to support more precise and personalized treatment plans.

Does electroconvulsive therapy improve depressive symptoms differently across age groups in patients with major depressive disorder?

Population

1617 patients with MDD across 15 eligible articles

Comparison

ECT outcomes across different age groups

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis

Key result

Electroconvulsive therapy improved depressive symptoms across all ages, with older patients (>60 years) benefiting more significantly in HAMD, MADRS, and WMS recognition memory scores.

Authors

CTChifai Tam LZLingling Zhao HYHaohao Yan

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

ECT benefits MDD patients across ages, with greater gains in those >60; extends meta-analytic support for age-stratified ECT efficacy.

Key Points

To assess and compare the therapeutic effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and cognitive function across different age groups in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).
Searched databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang through February 2025 for eligible studies.
Performed fixed-effect or random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regressions in R using data from 15 studies encompassing N=1,617 patients with MDD.
ECT overall significantly reduced HAMD, MADRS, and HAMA scores and increased MMSE cognitive scores, with no overall significant changes across subscales of the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS).
Subgroup and meta-regression analyses indicated that older patients (>60 years old) experienced significantly greater improvements in depressive symptoms (HAMD and MADRS) and WMS recognition memory compared to younger cohorts.

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis (n=1,617)

Structured PICO

Does electroconvulsive therapy improve depressive symptoms differently across age groups in patients with major depressive disorder?

Population

1,617 patients with major depressive disorder from 15 studies evaluating the therapeutic effect of electroconvulsive therapy across different age groups.

Intervention

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Comparator

Different age groups (specifically comparing older patients >60 years old vs other age groups)

Outcome

Scores of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS)patient reported

ECT demonstrates therapeutic effects across all age groups of patients with MDD, with older patients (>60 years) potentially benefiting more in terms of depressive symptom improvement.

Cite This Study

Tam et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Major depressive disorder (MDD) (n=1,617). Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) vs. Different age groups was evaluated on Symptomatic improvement (HAMD, MADRS, HAMA, MMSE, and WMS scores). Electroconvulsive therapy improved depressive symptoms across all ages, with older patients (>60 years) benefiting more significantly in HAMD, MADRS, and WMS recognition memory scores.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a969a7f535111e2d4ce8ca3 https://doi.org/10.1155/da/4345722

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September 1, 2026Depression and AnxietyOpen Access

ECT improves depressive symptoms across all ages, with greater benefit in patients over 60.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Why the study?

Does electroconvulsive therapy improve depressive symptoms differently across age groups in patients with major depressive disorder?

Population

1617 patients with MDD across 15 eligible articles

Comparison

ECT outcomes across different age groups

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis

Key result

Electroconvulsive therapy improved depressive symptoms across all ages, with older patients (>60 years) benefiting more significantly in HAMD, MADRS, and WMS recognition memory scores.

Authors

CTChifai Tam LZLingling Zhao HYHaohao Yan

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

ECT benefits MDD patients across ages, with greater gains in those >60; extends meta-analytic support for age-stratified ECT efficacy.

Key Points

To assess and compare the therapeutic effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and cognitive function across different age groups in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).
Searched databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang through February 2025 for eligible studies.
Performed fixed-effect or random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regressions in R using data from 15 studies encompassing N=1,617 patients with MDD.
ECT overall significantly reduced HAMD, MADRS, and HAMA scores and increased MMSE cognitive scores, with no overall significant changes across subscales of the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS).
Subgroup and meta-regression analyses indicated that older patients (>60 years old) experienced significantly greater improvements in depressive symptoms (HAMD and MADRS) and WMS recognition memory compared to younger cohorts.

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis (n=1,617)

Structured PICO

Does electroconvulsive therapy improve depressive symptoms differently across age groups in patients with major depressive disorder?

Population

1,617 patients with major depressive disorder from 15 studies evaluating the therapeutic effect of electroconvulsive therapy across different age groups.

Intervention

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Comparator

Different age groups (specifically comparing older patients >60 years old vs other age groups)

Outcome

ECT demonstrates therapeutic effects across all age groups of patients with MDD, with older patients (>60 years) potentially benefiting more in terms of depressive symptom improvement.

Cite This Study

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a969a7f535111e2d4ce8ca3 https://doi.org/10.1155/da/4345722

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

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