Time course of response to electroconvulsive therapy in elderlydepressed subjects
J.H.G. Williams
Bok Engelsk 1997
| Utgitt | 1997
|
|---|---|
| Omfang | Side 563- 566
|
| Opplysninger | Objective. To assess the time course of response to electroconvulsivetherapy (ECT) in elderly depressed subjects. In particular, todetermine whether significant antidepressant response occurs duringthe first few treatments.Design. A naturalistic study of elderly patients receiving ECT.Setting. Acute admission wards of a UK old age psychiatric service.Patients. 13 consecutive inpatients aged over 65 years, meetinginclusion criteria, with a diagnosis of current major depressiveepisode, who were treated with ECT.Main outcome measures. Severity of depression as assessed by theMontgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), psychomotorspeed as assessed by Gibson's spiral maze test (GSM) and the Kendrickdigit copying test (KDCT).Results. The first ECT treatment reduced the mean MADRS score by 21%(p<0.0001) and the second treatment the mean MADRS was reduced by 36%(p<0.0001). A non-significant improvement on GSM scores was seen thatparalleled improvement in the MADRS. The average number of ECTtreatments needed to reduce the MADRS score by half was 3.73+/-1.85,though the actual number varied between 1 and 7.Conclusions. ECT is a highly effective treatment for depression inthe elderly and significant antidepressant response can bedemonstrated after only one treatment, arguing for careful mentalstate monitoring during treatment. However, considerable variabilityis seen in individual cases, implying that ECT should not beabandoned just because rapid response is not seen. (C) 1997 by JohnWiley & Sons, Ltd.
|
| Emner |
