Electroconvulsive therapy for the acutely psychotic pregnant patient: a review of 3 cases

Three cases of acute psychosis during pregnancy had been treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) during their stay in hospital, due to their slow response to anti-psychotic medication. All three responded well to the treatment and two subsequently delivered normal healthy infants and they did not suffer maternal complications. The authors feel that ECT is as safe, if not safer than the use of high dosage of anti-psychotic medication and a review of the world literature appears to confirm this view. In addition, the psychotic process usually settles faster with the use of ECT than with the use of anti-psychotic drugs.