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Updated: Oct 1, 2026

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
Published on: April 11, 2019
Blood Pressure, Memory, and Electroconvulsive Therapy
Iannis M. Zervas1, Avraham Calev, Lina Jandorf
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, USA.
Abstract:
Blood pressure changes recorded during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in 23 psychiatric in-patients with major depressive disorders correlated with and predicted the degree of anterograde memory changes measured 48-72 h after ECT. The Randt memory test was the principal measure of memory change. A subgroup of older patients with cardiovascular illness received trimethaphan, a ganglionic blocker that impedes a hypertensive surge during the treatment. They did not differ in memory function from a younger subgroup that did not receive trimethaphan. Control of the hypertensive response in the older age group counterbalanced the additional memory dysfunction that was anticipated as a result of advanced age and cardiovascular pathology.
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