Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research
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Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is reported to be effective for intractable chronic pain with depression. However, not much has been done to clarify the ECT target in patients, whether the pain or the depression. We report a case of intractable chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with secondary depression in which the depression was treated successfully with an initial acute ECT course, and the pain finally improved with two additional ECT courses. ⋯ Our experience in thin case suggests that the therapeutic target in patients with chronic organic pain and secondary depression should be the pain; repeated ECT courses are likely to be effective for the pain, although the depression may resolve first.