Severely depressed girl to get electroconvulsive therapy

A 16-year-old girl with severe depression associated with an eating disorder is to receive up to 12 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in what a court heard will be life-saving treatment for her.

High Court president Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday ordered the therapy for the girl who, he was told, is a high achiever whose depressive illness has become so severe that she says she wants to die.

She harms herself including by running at walls to bang her head, the court heard. Granting the treatment orders sought by the HSE, the judge was satisfied it was a rare case in which ECT was “not only warranted but demanded”.