WASHINGTON, October 31, 2025
Newly published research is raising serious concerns about the safety and effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), commonly known as electroshock treatment, for depression. While ECT has long been promoted as a reliable intervention, emerging evidence points to significant risks, including persistent memory loss, cognitive impairment, and limited long-term benefit.
Research findings indicate that favorable assessments of ECT often rely on short-term outcomes and subjective measures, while long-term harms—particularly memory and identity-related effects—are underreported. Patient accounts and longer follow-up studies suggest these adverse effects may be more common and enduring than previously acknowledged.
The findings underscore the importance of rigorous evaluation, transparency, and fully informed consent when invasive psychiatric interventions are considered.
Read the full story:
CCHR National, “New Research Raises Serious Questions about Electroshock as Treatment for Depression,” CCHR National News, October 31, 2025, https://