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Effects of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy on cognitive functions
S Vothknecht1, K H Kho, H W van Schaick
1GGZ Delfland, Delft, The Netherlands.
The Journal of ECT
|September 16, 2003
Summary
Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and pharmacotherapy show similar cognitive outcomes. Both treatments maintained cognitive function and depression ratings during the maintenance phase after initial ECT.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Investigated cognitive side effects of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) versus pharmacotherapy.
- Compared treatments following an initial ECT session.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cognitive side effects of maintenance ECT with maintenance pharmacotherapy.
- To assess long-term cognitive functioning in patients receiving different maintenance treatments.
Main Methods:
- Prospective naturalistic study design.
- Compared 11 maintenance ECT patients with 13 pharmacotherapy control patients.
- Utilized clinical outcome and neuropsychological data during follow-up.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in patient characteristics or index ECT effects between groups.
- Pharmacotherapy group maintained stable cognitive function and depression ratings.
- Maintenance ECT group showed slight, non-significant improvements in cognitive performance and depression.
Conclusions:
- Neuropsychological functioning did not differ between maintenance ECT and pharmacotherapy groups.
- Cognitive function remained stable in patients undergoing maintenance ECT.