Electroconvulsive Therapy: In Response

Predictors of response to electroconvulsive therapy in major depressive disorder.

In recent years, electroconvulsive therapy (ECU has increasingly been reserved for moderate to severe depressions that have often been resistant to drug therapy or have had favorable response to ECT in the past. This selection process may modify the usefulness of clinical “predictors” of treatment outcome (Hobson 1953; Roberts 1959; Hamilton and White 1960; Ottosson 1962; Hordem et al. 1963; Ny...

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Effects of Lidocaine on the Acute Hemodynamic Response to Electroconvulsive Therapy

ABSTRACT Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been used widely to treat psychiatric disease. ECT under anesthesia is associated with hypertension and tachycardia. The cardiovascular effects of ECT were studied after per-treatment of 100 patients with lidocaine 1.5 mg/Kg (experimental group) and saline solution (control), using a double-blind, randomized clinical trial study. There were no sign...

Atropine premedication and the cardiovascular response to electroconvulsive therapy.

A report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists recommended avoiding atropine premedication during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). We have examined the cardiovascular effects of ECT with or without atropine premedication. Consenting patients (n = 30) were allocated randomly before their third ECT session to receive atropine or no premedication. The rate pressure product (RPP) was recorded befor...

Pre-Treatment Amygdala Volume Predicts Electroconvulsive Therapy Response

BACKGROUND Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for patients with severe depression. Knowledge on factors predicting therapeutic response may help to identify patients who will benefit most from the intervention. Based on the neuroplasticity hypothesis, volumes of the amygdala and hippocampus are possible candidates for predicting treatment outcome. Therefore, this prospect...