Research article summary (published 14 Aug 2007):

A report on mood and cognitive outcomes with right unilateral ultrabrief pulsewidth (0.3 ms) ECT and retrospective comparison with standard pulsewidth right unilateral ECT.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective treatment for depression but its use is limited by the risk of cognitive side effects. This study explored the potential of a novel approach, ultrabrief pulsewidth (0.3 ms) right unilateral (RUL-UB) ECT, to minimise cognitive effects while preserving efficacy. METHODS: Mood and neuropsychological functioning were objectively rated in 30 patients over a course of RUL-UB ECT at 6 times seizure threshold. Results (mood outcomes, ECT treatment parameters) were compared with a retrospectively assessed group of 30 age and gender matched patients who received RUL ECT (1.0 ms pulsewidth, 3.5 times seizure threshold) at the same hospital. RESULTS: Six treatments of RUL-UB ECT resulted in relatively few cognitive side effects, compared to reports of previous studies. The number of responders did not differ between groups but significantly more treatments were required in the RUL-UB group, suggesting a slower speed of response. LIMITATIONS: Patients were not randomised to the two forms of ECT and data was obtained retrospectively in the RUL ECT comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that RUL-UB ECT can be effective in treating depression while incurring lesser cognitive side effects than a commonly used form of RUL ECT, but a greater number of treatments may be required for response.

Author information

Author/s: Loo, Colleen (C); Sheehan, Patrick (P); Pigot, Melissa (M); Lyndon, William (W);

Affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of N.S.W., Australia. colleen.loo(-atsign-)unsw.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of affective disorders (J Affect Disord), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Nov; vol 103 (issue 1-3) : pp 277-81

Dates: Created 2007/10/01; Completed 2008/02/07; Revised 2009/09/28;

PMID: 17706790, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/28/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Affect - physiology Attention - physiology Bipolar Disorder - physiopathology; psychology; therapy Cerebrum - physiopathology Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; physiopathology; psychology Depressive Disorder, Major - physiopathology; psychology; therapy Electroconvulsive Therapy - methods Female Humans Male

Mental Recall - physiology Middle Aged Neuropsychological Tests Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology Prospective Studies Psychomotor Performance - physiology Reaction Time - physiology Retrospective Studies Treatment Outcome Verbal Learning - physiology Word Association Tests

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• Cortisol levels predict cognitive impairment induced by electroconvulsive therapy. 30 Aug 2001
• Neuropsychologic impairments in bipolar and unipolar mood disorders on the CANTAB neurocognitive battery. 29 Sep 2000
• Executive dysfunction in elderly bipolar manic patients. 30 May 2008
• Neuropsychological impact of Cg25 deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: preliminary results over 12 months. 29 Apr 2008
• Go-no-go task performance improvement after anodal transcranial DC stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in major depression. 10 Dec 2006
• Effects of electroconvulsive therapy on hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis activity in depressed patients. 29 Sep 2002
• Processing of context information in schizophrenia: relation to clinical symptoms and WCST performance. 5 Jul 2000
• Visuospatial working memory in patients with schizophrenia. 30 Dec 1996
• Cognitive impairment in remission in bipolar affective disorder. 30 Aug 2000
• The neuropsychology of mood disorders. 29 Nov 2006

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.