Pretreatment interhemispheric EEG coherence is related to seizure duration in right unilateral electroconvulsive
Georg Adler1, Wolfgang Hey, Caroline Achenbach
1Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurophysiology Service, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany. adler@as200.zi-mannheim.de
Objective:
The relationships between pretreatment EEG parameters and seizure duration in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were studied in order to provide information useful for the prediction of ECT-induced seizures.
Methods:
In 16 depressed patients treated with right unilateral ECT, pretreatment absolute band powers and interhemispheric coherences were assessed and correlated with the duration of the first ECT-induced seizure.
Results:
Interhemispheric coherence for the central electrodes in the fast alpha band was positively correlated with seizure duration.
Conclusions:
Interhemispheric coherence may reflect, in a quantitative manner, cortico-cortical transmission via commissural pathways required for the generation of a generalized seizure through right unilateral stimulation. It may represent a useful parameter with respect to seizure threshold with potential therapeutic implications for ECT.
Related Concept Videos
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...


