Efficacy of ECT in chronic, severe, antidepressant- and CBT-refractory PTSD: an open, prospective study.

Background: Treatment options are limited in patients with severe, chronic, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is little information on the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for PTSD.

Methods: Between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2005, all consenting adults (n=20) with severe, chronic, extensively antidepressant-refractory PTSD were prospectively treated with a fixed course of 6 bilateral ECT treatments administered on an outpatient basis at a twice-weekly frequency.