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Electroconvulsive Therapy in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Sumant Khanna1, B. N. Gangadhar, Vinod Sinha
1Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
Convulsive Therapy
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) showed initial symptom reduction in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients for up to four months. Better outcomes were seen in those with fewer anankastic traits and agitation, suggesting anti-obsessional effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health condition.
- Current treatments for OCD have limitations, necessitating exploration of novel therapeutic approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- To identify patient characteristics associated with a positive response to ECT for OCD.
Main Methods:
- An open-label trial was conducted involving nine subjects diagnosed with OCD according to DSM-III criteria.
- Symptomatology, personality traits (anankastic), agitation, depression, and interference scores were assessed.
Main Results:
- A temporary reduction in OCD symptomatology was observed, lasting 1 to 4 months post-treatment.
- Patients with fewer obsessive-compulsive (anankastic) personality traits and those who were agitated showed better treatment response.
- Correlations were found between depression and interference scores, but not directly with symptom scores.
Conclusions:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may possess anti-obsessional activity in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Patient characteristics such as lower anankastic traits and agitation may predict a better response to ECT for OCD.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and elucidate the mechanisms of ECT in OCD.