[stochastic_monk]

ECT, electroconvulsive therapy, actually is tremendously effective for refractory depression. I’ve known several individuals for whom it made all the difference.

It comes with massive memory loss; this leads me to think that the antidepressant effects of NMDA antagonists, cannabis, and ECT are all mediated by memory modulation.

To the point, it would be amazing if these benefits could be realized without nuking the brain.

[meowface]

I have no doubt ECT is very beneficial for many people with refractory depression, but I suspect the memory loss may be correlation and not causation.

I think the memory loss might be unnecessary collateral damage, perhaps due to a lack of precision, and future ECT advances may reduce the memory loss while retaining the antidepressant effects. I'm also not aware of any research indicating that the antidepressant effects of cannabis or NMDA antagonists like ketamine are connected to memory. But I'm definitely no expert in either field.