The aim of the current study was to investigate a possible relationship between electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) seizure adequacy parameters and clinical outcome as well as differences between ECT responders and nonresponders in terms of ECT seizure parameters in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. First and last ECT records data, sociodemographic variables, and baseline and post ECT Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores were obtained. Maximum sustained power was higher in last ECT in favor of responders while peak heart rate was higher in ECT nonresponders than responders in first ECT. Stimulus doses were higher in last ECT than in the first ECT in both groups. No predictor variable was observed among baseline ECT seizure parameters for clinical improvement. Study was insufficient to yield a precise finding pointing a relationship between electrophysiological seizure parameters and clinical outcome in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
AbstractObjectives: To compare the electroconvulsive therapy response of a sample of depressed elderly patients as a function of the presence or absence of psychosis.Method: Retrospective study of patients over age 65 treated with ECT at three psychiatric hospitals over a three year period.Results: One hundred and eighty-nine ECT courses were administered to 135 patients. Almost 8 5% of patients made a marked or moderately good response to treatment. There was no difference in ECT response between psychotic and non-psychotic depressed patients.Conclusions: ECT should be considered as a treatment option for severe depressive illness, regardless of depressive subtype.