The Use of ECT in the Elderly-Looking Beyond Depression
Anthony N Chatham1,2, Hadia Shafi3, Adriana P Hermida
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. achatha@emory.edu.
Current Psychiatry Reports
|July 13, 2022
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for geriatric psychiatric disorders, including depression and dementia. It offers robust efficacy with minimal side effects when administered with geriatric considerations.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
Background:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a well-established treatment for various psychiatric conditions.
- Its application and efficacy in the geriatric population require specific considerations due to age-related physiological changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current evidence on the use of ECT in geriatric patients.
- To examine ECT's efficacy in depression and other psychiatric disorders in the elderly.
- To provide practical recommendations for ECT practitioners and assess the pandemic's impact.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of recent evidence on ECT in the geriatric population.
- Analysis of studies focusing on depression, other psychiatric conditions, and behavioral symptoms of dementia.
- Inclusion of data on safety, side effects, and practical considerations.
Main Results:
- ECT demonstrates robust efficacy across a spectrum of psychiatric diseases in the elderly, including depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and catatonia.
- Positive effects are noted for behavioral symptoms in dementia and motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.
- ECT is generally safe with minimal transient side effects when appropriate geriatric considerations are applied.
Conclusions:
- ECT is a safe and effective treatment option for geriatric psychiatric disorders and should not be viewed as a last resort.
- Evidence supports its use in a broad range of conditions, with careful attention to the elderly population.
- Further research and practical guidelines can optimize ECT's application in this demographic.
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