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ECT in patients with intracranial masses
Keith G Rasmussen1, Candace Lynn Perry, Bruce Sutor
1Mayo Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, 200 First Street, Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. rasmussen.keith@mayo.edu
The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
|April 14, 2007
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is safe for patients with intracranial masses. This study found no neurological decline in patients undergoing ECT with brain masses, suggesting it is a viable treatment option.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment for severe mental health conditions.
- The safety of ECT in patients with intracranial masses or mass effect is not well-established.
- Intracranial masses can pose risks during procedures involving physiological changes.
Observation:
- Eight patients with intracranial masses or post-resection were treated with ECT.
- Neurological status was monitored throughout the ECT sessions.
- No patient experienced neurological deterioration during or after ECT.
Findings:
- ECT can be safely administered to patients with intracranial masses or mass effect.
- The procedure did not lead to adverse neurological outcomes in the observed cohort.
- This suggests ECT is a feasible therapeutic option in this specific patient population.
Implications:
- Clinical guidelines for ECT should consider its safety in patients with intracranial masses.
- Further research may explore the specific mechanisms underlying the safety of ECT in these cases.
- Neurologists and psychiatrists can consider ECT for eligible patients with intracranial masses.
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