amnesia that is a by-product of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Although ECT is effective in the relief of severe depression, memory deficits often arise, especially when the current is applied to both sides of the brain. Memory can be severely compromised in the hours or days following treatment, but new learning typically returns to normal by 6 months after treatment. Some impairment in the retrieval of events that occurred close to the time of treatment may remain.