Electroconvulsive therapy in a patient with unsuspected pheochromocytoma

We have described a patient given electroconvulsive therapy who was subsequently found to have a pheochromocytoma. The variability of the manifestations of pheochromocytoma combined with the nature of complaints normally encountered in the psychiatric population makes the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma difficult in such patients. Pheochromocytoma remains, however, an absolute contraindication for ECT and should therefore be ruled out if the patient is hypertensive or has episodic symptoms.