In view of the growing interest in the application of ECT, the most important aspects which are new or controversial in this field are discussed: position of electrodes, stimulus-type, determination of current-threshold, duration of the seizure, EEG-monitoring and frequency and duration of treatment. The main conclusions are: the D'Elia-position of the electrodes and the brief pulse stimulus are preferred, the sinusoidal stimulus is considered as obsolete. Simultaneous EEG-monitoring is advised.

Indications for ECT and psychometric evaluation are beyond the scope of this article, the aim of which is to strive towards a uniform procedure in the use of ECT.