Factors Influencing Number of Treatments and Seizure Duration in ECT: Drug Treatment, Social Class

This investigation studies number of treatments and seizure duration during a course of unilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in 82 inpatients with major depressive disorders. Therapy with antidepressants or benzodiazepines preceding ECT was neither related to number of treatments nor to seizure duration. An average dose of methohexital higher than 1.2 mg/kg body weight was associated both with an increased number of treatments and a shorter average seizure duration. Concurrent therapy with neuroleptics was related to a reduced number of treatments. Patients in social class I, more often than others, received fewer treatments.