Journal of ECT

INTRODUCTION: Theoretically, the procedural risk of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) could be increased in the presence of undetected aneurysms due to the hemodynamic changes associated with ECT. However, empirical evidence is limited to few individual case reports and case series. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of available evidence on ECT treatment in patients with intracranial aneurysms and untreated aortic aneurysms and we retrospectively analyzed data from 252 consecutive patients referred for ECT at the Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics of Siegen Hospital, Germany, who received magnetic resonance angiographies and abdominal sonographies as part of their routine pre-ECT workup...

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INTRODUCTION: Seizure quality is considered to be associated with treatment outcomes of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A wide range of treatment parameters and patient characteristics are known to influence seizure quality. However, conflicting results exist for the role of serum electrolyte levels and seizure quality. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 454 patients and a total of 2119 individual acute ECT sessions irrespective of diagnosis where a clinical evaluation of serum levels of sodium, potassium, and calcium took place routinely up to 2 days before the ECT session...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HDtDCS) priming improves the efficacy of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) in improving TRD. METHODOLOGY: A prospective hospital-based, randomized control study where the participants were divided into active or sham HDtDCS-primed iTBS stimulation groups for a total of 10 sessions and were assessed on clinical parameters at baseline, end of week 1, and end of week 2 was done...

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the long-term effects of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (M-ECT) with medication and medication only in patients with depression. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial of 1 year of M-ECT with medication or medication only investigated relapse/recurrence among 56 patients in remission after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depression was conducted. The results of the first year are published already and showed a significant advantage of M-ECT with medication...

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OBJECTIVE: Despite advances in pharmacotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains a mainstay treatment option in psychiatry. This study aims to determine the occurrence of oral injury from ECT modified with the use of an inexpensive, disposable, hand-made oral protector customized to the dental needs of the individual patient. METHOD: Based on data collected between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2018, registered patients who had received ECT were evaluated retrospectively...

OBJECTIVES: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be life-saving in situations where patients are at risk of dying from severe manifestations of psychiatric illness. In some of these cases, patients are unwilling/unable to consent to ECT, and involuntary ECT is required. Such use of involuntary ECT varies substantially across European countries for unclear reasons. The aim of this study was to examine clinical and legal differences in this use of involuntary ECT across European countries...

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OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to describe prepubescent catatonia in very young children, which is poorly documented in the current literature and, as a result, overlooked in medical settings. METHODS: We examined a convenience sample of 10 patients at an academic center who were younger than 12 years and met criteria for catatonia. After institutional review board approval, we extracted from the electronic medical records demographic and diagnostic information, comorbidity, developmental history, and laboratory testing...

OBJECTIVES: It is assumed that neuroplasticity plays a central role in the effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on patients with major depressive disorder. We carried out an explorative study to map out the extent in which gray matter volume changes could be found directly after ECT treatment and after follow-up. METHODS: Initially, 12 patients with treatment-resistant depression were recruited from the Radboud Medical Center. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were conducted at the following 3 time points: before ECT (n = 12), after ECT (n = 10), and at 3-month follow-up (n = 8)...

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OBJECTIVE: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is highly effective for severe psychiatric disorders; however, short seizure durations may lead to ineffective therapy. This retrospective study aimed to examine the risks and benefits of switching to ketamine anesthesia to augment seizure durations during an acute course of ECT. METHODS: We included 33 patients who underwent ketamine anesthesia due to suboptimal seizures during an acute course of ECT. We assessed seizure duration, stimulus dose, hemodynamic variability, and postseizure complications before and after switching to ketamine...