110 patients (>18 yrs.) with a depressive episode (unipolar MDD) who
will start ECT (ECT group) and 110 patients (>18 yrs.) with a depressive episode (unipolar
MDD) who will undergo treatment with antidepressants (TCA group) will be recruited from
specialized clinics (academic hospital, general hospital and GGz-institute) and followed-up
for one year to gather reliable data on efficacy including relapse rates, cost-effectiveness,
quality of life and cognitive functioning.