http://www.newsweek.com/shock-therapy-depression-new-study-shows-when-cost-worth-it-943077

Psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and dozens of pharmaceuticals are the most common treatments for severe depression. One of the most powerful, however, is shock therapy. In studies, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as shock therapy, has rapidly restored to health up to 60 percent of patients with the disorder—far more effectively than other treatments.

“ECT is the best treatment to get people with severe depression into remission,” says psychiatrist Daniel Maixner. And yet just 2 percent of patients opt for shock therapy. One reason is the stigma attached. Another: It’s expensive—­between $300 and $1,000 per treatment, and patients typically need five to 15 initial sessions, followed by 20 more for ­maintenance over the course of a year.