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Continuation and maintenance ECT in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder
Nutan Atre Vaidya1, Atul R Mahableshwarkar, Raheel Shahid
1Finch University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, U.S.A. vaidyan@finchcms.edu
The Journal of ECT
|March 7, 2003
Summary
Continuation and maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (c/mECT) is effective for managing chronic mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, in treatment-resistant patients. Despite its benefits, c/mECT remains underutilized, highlighting the need for further research and optimized treatment protocols.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Continuation and maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (c/mECT) offers a long-term management strategy for mood and psychotic disorders.
- It is particularly relevant for chronic, recurrent, medication-resistant, or medication-intolerant patients, including those with high suicide risk.
Observation:
- A MEDLINE search reviewed literature on maintenance, continuation, and prophylactic electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
- Despite methodological limitations, studies overwhelmingly indicate c/mECT's effectiveness in bipolar mood disorder.
- A review of 13 patients receiving maintenance ECT at a VA medical center showed good results.
Findings:
- The majority of reviewed studies report positive outcomes for c/mECT in bipolar mood disorder.
- Clinical observations support the efficacy of c/mECT in managing mood disorders.
Implications:
- c/mECT is underutilized in treating bipolar mood disorder despite demonstrated effectiveness.
- Further research with robust study designs is crucial to identify response predictors and refine c/mECT protocols for treatment-resistant bipolar patients.