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Updated: Aug 22, 2026
Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
Published on: April 11, 2019
Bifrontal electroconvulsive therapy in the elderly: a 2-year retrospective
John D Little1, Martin R Atkins, Jo Munday
1Grampians Psychiatric Service, Victoria, Australia. LesleyH@bhs.org.au
Objectives:
We sought to examine the clinical effect of bifrontal (BF) electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in depressed patients aged 65 years and older.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review of all patients who received BF ECT for a depressive disorder between January 2000 and December 2002 was made.
Results:
Fourteen patients, with a mean age of 73.9 years, received BF ECT. Nine had unipolar and 5 had bipolar depression. Twelve patients (86%) responded unequivocally after a mean of 8.5 treatments. Five (35%) experienced cognitive side effects. Ninety-two percent of patients were discharged on lithium (0.6 mmol/L) with 86% also receiving antidepressants or antipsychotics. Only 1 patient relapsed, the remainder remaining well at follow-up after a mean of 18.7 months.
Conclusion:
BF ECT was found to be clinically effective and associated with cognitive side effects in elderly patients who were experiencing a depressive episode of either unipolar or bipolar origin.
