Now, new research has addressed these concerns, finding that for most patients with major depression, the therapy's benefits far outweigh its risks. The Hollywood image of shock treatment notwithstanding, electroconvulsive therapy remains an accepted form of treatment for severe depression.
Award-winning actress Meryl Streep is a star of stage and screen, known for her work in such diverse films as The Deer Hunter, Adaptation, Mamma Mia! and Doubt.
Among German leaders, Merkel is a triple anomaly: a woman (divorced, remarried, no children), a scientist (quantum chemistry), and an Ossi (a product of East Germany). These qualities, though making her an outsider in German politics, also helped to propel her extraordinary rise.