Pattern of cognitive dysfunction in depressive patients during maintenance electroconvulsive therapy.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Objective data regarding adverse cognitive deficits associated with maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (M-ECT) are lacking. This study examined the cognitive state of depressive patients during M-ECT.

METHOD:
A cross-sectional study was carried out in 11 depressive patients in remission, all with a DSM-IV diagnosis of major depressive disorder. The mean number of previous ECT sessions was 36.1, and the mean intersession interval was 52.7 days. A group of 11 patients who had not received ECT was selected for comparison and matched for diagnosis, sex, age and years of schooling. All subjects were assessed using a complete neuropsychological battery including memory, attention and frontal function tests.

RESULTS:
Groups did not present differences in long delay verbal recall. Encoding of new information and results on the frontal function tests were significantly lower in the M-ECT patients.

CONCLUSION:
Depressed patients preserve long-term memory, but suffer short-term memory impairment and frontal function alteration during M-ECT. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to determine the influence of M-ECT on non-memory functions and different memory subtypes.

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Author information

Author/s: Rami-González, L (L); Salamero, M (M); Boget, T (T); Catalan, R (R); Ferrer, J (J); Bernardo, M (M);

Affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Psychological medicine (Psychol Med), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Feb; vol 33 (issue 2) : pp 345-50

Dates: Created 2003/03/07; Completed 2003/05/28; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12622313, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; etiology; physiopathology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depressive Disorder, Major - therapy
Electroconvulsive Therapy - adverse effects
Female
Frontal Lobe - physiopathology

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