Speed of electroconvulsive therapy for depression: Effects of electrode placement

Objective Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a rapidly effective treatment for severe depression. Treatment with right unilateral (RUL) or bitemporal (BT) ECT may explain individual differences in speed of effectiveness. There limited evidence demographic and clinical factors that predict response remission ECT. We aimed to investigate improvement as well achieving between twice-weekly brief-pulse high-dose (6 × seizure threshold) RUL moderate-dose (1.5 BT also explored characteristics remission. Methods Weekly 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores were assessed among patients depression who participated the EFFECT-Dep trial (ISRCTN23577151). Speed randomised (n = 69) was compared using independent sample t tests. Pearson's chi-square Fisher's exact tests proportions responders remitters at each weekly assessment. Predictors Cox regression analyses. Results no significant improvement, Exploratory analyses indicated not predicted by wide variety characteristics. Conclusion electrode placement did have predictive value when determining Other factors, such cognitive side-effects, be more relevant making choice