ECT in the presence of increased intracranial pressure and respiratory failure: case report.

Despite the safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the presence of such potentially dangerous CNS disorders as CNS infections, brain tumor, and normal pressure hydrocephalus, increased intracranial pressure is still considered an absolute contraindication. In addition, although ECT has been administered to patients with pneumonia, it has never been used when respiratory failure is present. The safe and effective use of ECT in a patient in whom life-threatening refusal to cooperate with medical therapy appeared to be caused by a combination of depression and organic brain disease is reported.