Short-term effect of ECT in middle-aged and elderly patients with intractable catatonic schizophrenia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The management of middle-aged and elderly patients with catatonic schizophrenia has long been a major problem in clinical geriatric psychiatry. Most cases are intractable because of medication resistance, medication intolerance, or severe medical conditions. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is recognized as one of the most efficacious therapies for catatonic schizophrenia. Thus, we conducted a prospective study of the short-term effect of acute ECT on middle-aged and elderly patients with intractable catatonic schizophrenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were nine consecutive patients older than 45 years who had fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for catatonic-type schizophrenia and had been referred for first-time acute ECT after other treatments had failed. The patients were treated at Tohoku University Hospital between January 1998 and March 2002. We evaluated the clinical response of these patients to acute ECT by means of the brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS). We also evaluated adverse effects of acute ECT. RESULTS: The response rate was 100%. The total BPRS score was improved in all nine subjects at the end of the ECT course and 1 week after the final session in comparison with the total pre-ECT BPRS score (11.9 +/- 7.5 and 9.3 +/- 9.2 versus 57.1 +/- 13.1, respectively, p = 0.008, p = 0.008). The total Global Assessment of Functioning score was also improved significantly (from 10.8 +/- 9.4 just before ECT to 61.6 +/- 18.9 1 week after ECT, p = 0.008). Guy's five factors (thought disturbance, activation, anxiety-depression, hostility-suspiciousness, and anergia) improved significantly (p = 0.008, p = 0.008, p = 0.018, p = 0.012, p = 0.008, respectively). One patient showed supraventricular premature contractions (SVPCs) during an ECT seizure. After some ECT sessions, three patients exhibited mild to moderate delirium that disappeared within 3 days. However, no patient experienced a severe cognitive or physical adverse effect during the course of ECT. CONCLUSIONS: Acute ECT has a good short-term effect on middle-aged and elderly patients with intractable catatonic schizophrenia and appears to be safe. Our results indicate that systematic studies on a large scale are warranted for further investigation of the efficacy and safety of acute ECT for treating middle-aged and elderly patients with catatonic schizophrenia.     

Continuation electroconvulsive therapy for relapse prevention in middle-aged and elderly patients with intractable catatonic schizophrenia

The authors have previously studied the short-term effect of the first acute electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) course (phase 1 study) on intractable catatonic schizophrenia and the 1-year relapse rate after response to the acute ECT (phase 2 study) in middle-aged and elderly patients. Results indicated that, although acute ECT has an excellent short-term effect, the 1-year relapse rate after response to acute ECT is high despite the use of continuation neuroleptics. In the present prospective study the effect was explored of continuation ECT with neuroleptics on the prevention of relapse after response to a second acute ECT course in the relapsed participants of the phase 2 study. The present study included seven consecutive patients > 45 years of age with catatonic schizophrenia (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edn; DSM-IV) who relapsed (despite the use of neuroleptics) within 1 year after response to the first acute ECT course, and then responded to the second acute ECT course. The patients were given continuation ECT combined with neuroleptics; four ECT sessions at weekly intervals, then four ECT sessions every 2 weeks, then three ECT sessions every 4 weeks. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by means of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) weekly for 48 weeks or until relapse. Relapse was defined as a BPRS score of at least 37 for 3 consecutive days. Three out of the seven patients (42.9%) had a sustained response to ECT during the 1-year follow-up period. In the seven patients the probability of relapse within 1 year under treatment with neuroleptics alone (phase 2 study) was statistically higher than that under continuation ECT combined with neuroleptics (present study). No statistical differences were seen between the phase 2 study and the present study in the severity of psychiatric symptoms, global social function, the number of acute ECT sessions or the dosage of neuroleptics. No patient experienced a severe cognitive or physical adverse effect resulting from continuation ECT. Continuation ECT with neuroleptics is an efficacious and safe treatment for maintaining a response in middle-aged and elderly patients with intractable catatonic schizophrenia who have relapsed after a positive response to acute ECT despite the use of continuation neuroleptics.     

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in a six-year-old girl suffering from major depressive disorder with catatonic features

Objective ECT is generally both effective and safe in the treatment of adolescents, but treatment using ECT in children of pre-pubertal age has been less reported and is a controversial treatment. Clinical picture This article reports a 6-year-old girl who has been diagnosed as having major depressive disorder with catatonic features and 50% loss of weight due to food refusal. Treatment The seven-session ECT treatment with bilateral and brief pulse stimulation was successfully done. Propofol 1% was used for anesthesia. Outcome After the third session, the patient’s clinical improvement began by eating. As the ECT sessions went on the signs of depression and catatonic features completely resolved. There were no noticeable clinical side effects. Conclusion ECT should be considered in severe cases of child psychiatric disorders where it is life threatening, as an effective and safe method.     

Adjusting the frequency of continuation and maintenance electroconvulsive therapy to prevent relapse of catatonic schizophrenia in middle-aged and elderly patients who are relapse-prone

The purpose of the present paper was to study the effect of continuation electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on the prevention of relapse in middle-aged and elderly patients with intractable catatonic schizophrenia. It was found that continuation ECT is efficacious to sustain remission for patients who suffer relapse after response to acute ECT despite continuation neuroleptics. However, three patients suffered relapse during continuation ECT, therefore the effect of adjusting the frequency of continuation ECT and maintenance ECT was investigated in these patients with catatonic schizophrenia who relapsed during continuation ECT. These patients with DSM-IV catatonic schizophrenia who relapsed during continuation ECT were treated with more frequent continuation ECT and subsequent maintenance ECT after response to acute ECT. The patients' Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores were prospectively evaluated until relapse. Patients were considered to be relapsers if they had a BPRS score >or=37 for 3 consecutive days. The three patients with catatonic schizophrenia who relapsed during continuation ECT were treated successfully with more frequent continuation ECT and subsequent maintenance ECT. No patient experienced a severe adverse effect from continuation or maintenance ECT. More frequent continuation ECT and maintenance ECT deserves consideration in middle-aged and elderly patients with intractable catatonic schizophrenia who suffer relapse during continuation ECT. Large-scale systematic studies are warranted to investigate the optimum use of continuation and maintenance ECT in patients with catatonic schizophrenia.     

Disturbed circadian motor activity patterns in postcardiotomy delirium

Aims:  More than 20% of patients of 65 years or older may develop a delirium after cardiac surgery. Patients with delirium frequently show a disturbed 24-hr motor activity pattern, but objective and quantitative data are scarce. Our aim was to quantify motor activity patterns in elderly patients with or without a postcardiotomy delirium after elective cardiac surgery.
Methods:  Wrist-actigraphy was used to quantify 24-hr motor activity patterns for a 5-day period following cardiac surgery in 79 patients of 65 years or older. Clinical state was monitored daily by means of the Confusion Assessment Method-Intensive Care Unit and the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised 98.
Results:  The activity Amplitude, and the daytime Activity/minute and Restlessness index were significantly higher and the daytime number of Immobility minutes significantly lower for the patients without delirium or with short delirium episodes, as compared to patients with a sustained delirium (>3 days).
Conclusions:  Actigraphy proves to be a valuable instrument for evaluating motor activity patterns in relation to clinical state in patients with a postcardiotomy delirium.     

Are brief pulse and sine wave ECT equally efficient?

The literature reflects that brief pulse electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) uses less energy to elicit seizures and produces less cognitive disturbance than does sine wave ECT. However, the relative effectiveness and efficiency of the two waveforms have not been firmly established. In an effort to clarify these issues, the authors retrospectively compared a diagnostically heterogeneous group of 197 patients who received sine wave ECT with a similar group of 144 patients who received brief pulse ECT. The average number of ECT treatments administered to each group was essentially the same. Among a more homogeneous group of patients with affective disorders treated with either bilateral or mixed electrode placements, the number of treatments required with each waveform did not differ significantly.     

Response rate of catatonia to electroconvulsive therapy and its clinical correlates

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an important treatment for catatonia. We aimed to study the response rate of catatonia treated with ECT and its clinical correlates in a large sample of inpatients. The ECT parameters of all patients (n = 63) admitted with catatonia between the months of January and December 2007 were examined. The number of ECTs administered, seizure threshold, failure to achieve adequate seizures and clinical signs pertaining to catatonia were analyzed. Response was considered as complete resolution of catatonic symptoms with Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS) score becoming zero. ECT was mostly started after failed lorazepam treatment except in 6 patients where ECT was the first choice. Patients who responded in 4 ECT sessions were considered fast responders (mean session number for response is 4 sessions) and response with 5 or more ECTs was considered slow response. Fast responders had significantly lower duration of catatonia (19.67 ± 21.66 days, P = 0.02) and higher BFCRS score at presentation (17.25 ± 6.21, P = 0.03). Presence of waxy flexibility and gegenhalten (22.60% vs. 0%, P = 0.01) predicted faster response, whereas presence of echophenomena (3.2% vs. 24.0%) predicted slow response. The response rate to catatonia appears to be associated with the severity and duration of catatonia, and the presence of certain catatonic signs.     

Clinical and cerebral blood flow changes in catatonic patients treated with ECT

Objective: To determine changes in clinical manifestations and cerebral blood flow (CBF) before and after administration of ECT to patients with catatonia due to schizophrenia or mood disorders. Methods: A sample of nine patients who met DSM-IV criteria for catatonia was studied. Patients received between 5 and 15 sessions (thrice per week) of ECT. Severity of catatonia was measured with the Modified Rogers Scale (MRS). Changes in CBF were measured with a brain single positron emission computer tomography (SPECT) that was performed 1 week before the first ECT and 1 week after the last ECT. Results: Catatonia was due to schizophrenia in five patients and mood disorders in four patients. There were no significant clinical and brain SPECT differences between these two groups before treatment. Pre- vs. post-ECT comparisons showed significant reduction of catatonic symptoms in both groups. However, patients with mood disorders needed less ECT sessions and showed greater clinical improvement. Brain SPECT showed significant increase in CBF in parietal, temporal, and occipital regions in patients with mood disorder and no significant changes in patients with schizophrenia. Conclusions: These results support the efficacy of ECT for treatment of catatonic patients, especially secondary to mood disorders, which seem to be correlated with improvements in CBF.     

Electroconvulsive therapy resolves cortical inhibition and manneristic omissions in a chronic catatonic patient

We investigated a patient with severe catatonic schizophrenia (manneristic catatonia according to Karl Leonhard) treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) after pharmacological approaches did not result in any clinical improvement. Before and after nine ECT sessions a double-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paradigm was used to measure intracortical inhibition (ICI) which has been shown to be reduced in a significant proportion of patients with schizophrenia. Although the patient showed no remission regarding some psychomotor aspects after ECT, we found an increase in ICI and a remarkable clinical improvement of catatonic omissions which might be due to changes in the GABAergic system.     

One-year outcome after response to ECT in middle-aged and elderly patients with intractable catatonic schizophrenia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: ECT is one of the most efficacious treatments for catatonic schizophrenia. However, there has been no study on the efficacy of ECT in elderly patients with catatonic schizophrenia. Thus, we conducted prospective studies on the short-term (phase 1 study) and long-term (phase 2 study) effects of acute ECT on intractable catatonic schizophrenia in middle-aged and elderly patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The phase 1 study included 11 consecutive patients over 45 years of age who fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for catatonic schizophrenia and were referred to Tohoku University Hospital for the first time for acute ECT between January 1, 1998, and August 31, 2003, after other treatments had failed. We evaluated the clinical response of these patients to acute ECT by means of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). We also evaluated adverse effects of acute ECT. The patient or guardian provided written informed consent. Exclusion criterion was a history of dementia or substance abuse. Patients were considered clinical responders if they had a BPRS score ;ek 25 for 1 week after the final ECT session. The phase 2 study included 11 consecutive patients who responded to acute ECT in the phase 1 study. Patients provided written informed consent. Patients' BPRS scores were evaluated weekly (18 items, rated 0-6) for 48 weeks or until relapse/recurrence, during which time they received pharmacotherapy. Patients were considered clinical "relapsers" if they had a BPRS score of at least 37 for 3 consecutive days. Differences in clinical characteristics between patients with and without recurrence were analyzed statistically by the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: All 11 patients completed the phase 1 study, and the acute ECT response rate was 100%. No patient experienced a severe adverse cognitive or physical effect during the course of acute ECT. All 11 patients also completed the phase 2 study. The mean dose of continuation neuroleptics in all 11 cases was 296.8 +/- 277.6 mg (range, 0-982 mg) (chlorpromazine [CPZ] equivalent). Relapse occurred in 7 cases, and all occurred within 6 months. The 1-year recurrence rate was 63.6%. The mean (+/-SD) relapse prevention time in the 7 cases was 76.0 +/- 64.7 days (range, 11-163 days). A significant difference in daily neuroleptic dose before acute ECT was found between the patients suffering recurrence and those not suffering recurrence (766.7 +/- 521.8 CPZ-equivalent mg with recurrence versus 101.9 +/- 75.2 CPZ-equivalent mg without recurrence, U = 2.0, P = 0.923). There was a trend toward a lower Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score just before ECT (7.3 +/- 4.0 with recurrence versus 16.8 +/- 11.2 without recurrence, U = 4.5, P = 0.073). CONCLUSIONS: The short-term efficacy of acute ECT for middle-aged and elderly patients with intractable catatonic schizophrenia is excellent. However, the 1-year recurrence rate, especially the 6-month relapse rate, after response to acute ECT is high, despite continuation pharmacotherapy. The need for more effective relapse-prevention strategies, such as continuation ECT, is urgent.     

Memory, attention, and executive functions before and after sine and pulse wave electroconvulsive therapies for treatment-resistant major depression

OBJECTIVE: Studies of the cognitive effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have resulted in controversial findings up to now, partly because researchers and reviewers have not always made a clear distinction among various aspects of cognition and because there are many parameters involved in the administration of ECT that have a potential impact on cognition. The present study focused on the impact of sine and pulse waveforms on anterograde memory and nonmemory cognitive functions. METHODS: We assigned 18 patients with unipolar major depression or bipolar I or II disorder, most recent episode depressed, to receive sine wave or pulse wave ECT and assessed their cognitive function before and after ECT, using a neuropsychologic test battery that measured anterograde memory, attention, and executive functions. Outcomes were measured, on average, 8.2 days after the last ECT session. RESULTS: Both waveforms were equally effective in alleviating depression. Those who received sine wave ECT showed statistically significant deterioration in attention and executive tasks, such as the Stroop test, which measures selective attention (P = 0.02), and the dual task, which taps divided attention (P = 0.01). On the other hand, those who received pulse wave ECT improved to a significant degree in certain memory tasks, such as visual memory (P = 0.01) and general memory (P = 0.01) of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R), as well as in the dual task (P = 0.01). The between-group comparison revealed robust superiority of the pulse wave over the sine wave in terms of the dual task (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Anterograde memory improved to a statistically significant or nonsignificant degree at 1 week post-ECT in comparison with pre-ECT regardless of waveforms. Attention/executive functions tended to deteriorate with sine wave ECT but improved with pulse wave ECT.     

Efficacy of risperidone in the treatment of delirium in elderly patients

Background:  Despite increasing recognition of delirium as a serious complication of physical illness, little has been reported in this area. Interest has been raised in treatment options other than haloperidol, such as atypical antipsychotic agents.
Methods:  A 2-week open-label trial of risperidone for the treatment of delirium was conducted to assess the efficacy and tolerance of this medication in elderly patients. Twenty-two patients with DSM-IV-defined delirium were investigated. All patients had the hyperactive–hyperalert variant of delirium. Patients received a fixed dose of risperidone (mean 1.5 ± 0.7 mg; range 0.5–3 mg). Delirium was assessed using the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS) at baseline and on Days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 after the initiation of risperidone treatment. Clinical and demographic data, as well as risperidone therapy related information, were collected.
Results:  Delirium resolved in all patients over the course of treatment. The mean period over which delirium resolved was 4.0 ± 2.9 days. The mean DRS score at baseline was 20.7 ± 3.0. The DRS score improved from baseline to Day 1 of treatment and continued to improve until the study end-point. Mild side-effects were present in 27.3% of patients. Stepwise logistic regression identified a decrease of 2 points or higher on the DRS on Day 1 associated with side-effects. There were no significant differences in the response to treatment with the different doses of risperidone used.
Conclusion:  Our findings indicate that low-dose risperidone (0.5–3.0 mg/day) is effective and safe for the treatment of delirium in elderly patients, and that an early response on Day 1 of treatment may be associated with side-effects in these patients.     

Double-blind randomized controlled study comparing short-term efficacy of bifrontal and bitemporal electroconvulsive therapy in acute mania

Background:  Bifrontal electrode placement is as efficacious as bitemporal placement during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in depression but is associated with fewer cognitive adverse effects. There are no studies comparing these techniques in acute mania. This study compared the short-term efficacy and adverse effects of bifrontal and bitemporal ECT in the treatment of acute mania.
Method:  Thirty-six DSM-IV mania inpatients referred for ECT were recruited for study. They were randomized to receive bifrontal (BFECT; n = 17) or bitemporal (BTECT; n = 19) ECT. None of the subjects were on mood stabilizers during the course of ECT. Severity of mania was measured on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) before beginning ECT and then on Days 3, 7, 11, 14, and 21 of treatment. Cognitive functions were assessed eight hours after the fifth ECT session using the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), Paired Associate Learning Test, Complex Figure Test, Verbal Fluency Test (animals and fruits categories), and Trail Making Test, Part A.
Results:  The subjects in the two groups were comparable on sociodemographic and clinical variables, including severity of mania at baseline. They were also similar in ECT parameters, including seizure threshold and seizure duration. Mean YMRS scores showed faster decline in the BFECT than in the BTECT group. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that a greater proportion of subjects in the BFECT group responded (50% reduction in YMRS score) significantly earlier than in the BTECT group. There were no significant differences between the groups in performance on cognitive function tests.
Conclusion:  In this pilot study, mania patients treated with BFECT responded faster than those treated with BTECT, with comparable cognitive adverse effects. Since ECT is usually prescribed for rapid control of symptoms, BFECT may be preferred over BTECT in the treatment of acute mania.     

Ultra-brief pulse ECT in bipolar and unipolar depressive disorder: differences in speed of response

Objectives:  There is little evidence for differences in response and speed of response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) between patients with bipolar and patients with unipolar depressive disorder. In the only prospective study to date, Daly et al. (Bipolar Disord 2001; 3: 95–104) found patients with bipolar depression to show more rapid clinical improvement and require fewer treatments than unipolar patients. In this study, response and speed of response of patients with unipolar and bipolar depression treated with ultra-brief pulse ECT were compared.
Methods:  All patients (n = 64) participated in a randomized trial comparing ultra-brief pulse bifrontal ECT at 1.5 times seizure threshold and unilateral ECT at 6 times seizure threshold. Thirteen patients (20.3%) had DSM-IV-defined bipolar depression. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Clinical Global Impression scale were administered at baseline and repeated weekly during and after the course of treatment by a blinded rater. At the same time point, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Patient Global Impression scale were administered. Speed of response was analyzed using survival analyses.
Results:  Patients with bipolar and unipolar depression did not differ in rates of response or remission following the ECT course, nor in response to unilateral or bifrontal ECT. Patients with bipolar depression, however, showed a more rapid response than patients with unipolar depression.
Conclusions:  Patients with bipolar depression tend to show more rapid clinical improvement with ECT than patients with unipolar depression.     

Treatment of catatonia with electroconvulsive therapy in an 11-year-old girl

OBJECTIVE: To report the case of an 11-year-old girl who presented with acute onset of psychotic symptoms with catatonic features treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). METHOD: Described herein is the case of an 11-year-old, prepubertal girl who represented with catatonic symptoms unresponsive to conventional medical treatment. After thorough clinical investigation and obtaining a second opinion we gained consent from her parents to perform ECT as a life saving procedure. RESULTS: Six ECT treatments were administered with clinical improvement, the patient did develop hypomanic symptoms as a side-affect of ECT. CONCLUSION: The patient exhibited potentially life-threatening self-harming behaviour secondary to catatonic and psychotic symptoms. Her behaviour and symptoms responded to ECT. The patient developed hypomania that responded to mood stabilization. ECT was a safe and effective treatment for catatonia in this prepubescent girl.     

Maximal response to electroconvulsive therapy for the treatment of catatonic symptoms

OBJECTIVES: Because the number of medical lawsuits has recently increased in Japan, doses of medication above the upper limits have recently been avoided, even when treating catatonic patients. We treated catatonic symptoms with drugs within the upper limit of dosage and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to determine the maximal response. METHODS: We examined 50 consecutive patients with catatonic symptoms admitted to a university hospital during a 32-month period who were treated with either drugs within the upper limit or ECT. RESULTS: Response rates were as follows: ECT, 100%; chlorpromazine, 68%; risperidone, 26%; haloperidol, 16%; and benzodiazepines, 2%. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that ECT is the treatment of choice for catatonic symptoms.     

Present status and practice of electroconvulsive therapy at the Psychiatric Hospital,Enugu, Nigeria

During the 12-month period, 1 January 1978 to 31 December 1978, 690 people received 4,194 electroconvulsive treatments at the Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu. The diagnostic classifications of patients receiving this form of treatment included severe psychotic depression (and masked depression), catatonic schizophrenia (with marked withdrawal, mutism, or excitement); mania which has become unresponsive to major tranquillizers, some selected cases of acute delirium and the collective group “puerperal psychosis”. Bilateral ECT was generally used and the frequency of treatment was two ECTs per week. The method of anaesthesia used is described and mention is made of the few and mild complications which were encountered. ECT was found to have reduced the total duration of stay in hospital (for in-patients). Considering the acute shortage of specialized manpower in the field of psychiatry in Nigeria, a suggestion is made for the establishment of community based psychiatric centres where, among other forms of therapy, ECT could be given in appropriate cases, on out-patient basis. The wider use of this form of treatment in deserving cases in psychiatric hospitals is also recommended.     

Practice of electroconvulsive therapy at the research and training hospital in Turkey

Objective  We sought to obtain an overview of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) practice in Bakirkoy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases, which is the biggest hospital for psychiatry in Turkey. Method  From 1st January 2006 to 30th June 2007, a form enquiring about evaluation of ECT was filled retrospectively. Results  The total number of patients, admitted for psychiatry during the survey period was 265,283. A total of 1,531 patients (12.4% among inpatients and 0.58% in all psychiatric admissions) received 13,618 sessions (including multiple hospitalizations) of ECT from 12,341 psychiatric inpatients during the survey period. Ninety-eight patients had multiple hospitalizations. The male-to-female ratio was 1.26–1. Patients with bipolar affective disorder, current episode manic with or without psychotic symptoms received ECT most frequently (30.3%), followed by patients with schizophrenia (29.5%), severe depressive episode with or without psychotic symptoms (include bipolar affective disorder current episode severe depression) (15.2%), other non-organic psychotic disorders (14.4%), schizoaffective disorders (6.3%), mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance abuse with psychotic disorders (3.5%) and catatonic schizophrenia (0.7%). Patients who received ECT were in age group of 25–44 years (64.7%), followed by 45–64 years (17.7%), 18–24 years (15.4%), 65 years and older (1.4%), and younger than 18 years (0.8%). All patients received modified ECT. There were no ECT-related deaths during the survey. Conclusion  The rate of ECT among all psychiatric inpatients during the survey period was 12.4%. The majority of patients who received ECT were diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder-current episode manic and schizophrenia. ECT training programs for psychiatry residents and specialists should be planned, and conducted systematically.     

Fatigue, depression and disability accumulation in multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional study

Objective:  To investigate the influence of disability and the speed of disability accumulation on fatigue and depression in a large cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods:  A total of 412 patients completed the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD). The patients were registered at our outpatient department and demographic and disease specific data were compared between patients with and without severe fatigue (FSS ≥ 5.0) and clinically significant depressive symptoms (CESD ≥ 16). We investigated the association of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, multiple sclerosis severity scores (MSSS) and either CESD scores or FSS-scores with severe fatigue and clinically significant depressive symptoms in a multivariable logistic regression model, with adjustment for possible confounders.
Results:  Only CESD scores were independently associated with severe fatigue. FSS scores and female gender were independently associated with clinically significant depressive symptoms. Neither EDSS nor MSSS scores were independently associated with fatigue or depression.
Conclusion:  In patients with MS, fatigue and depression are strongly associated with each other but not with the degree of disability or the speed of disability accumulation.     

Treatment of post-electroconvulsive therapy delirium and agitation with donepezil

Delirium and agitation are commonly encountered after administration of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Management is generally fairly straightforward, although some patients may have a severe, prolonged, or refractory course. We recently cared for a 65-year-old man who consistently developed severe and very prolonged post-ECT delirium that did not respond to typical pharmacological agents; the duration of delirium was dramatically shortened by the addition of donepezil. Cholinesterase inhibitors may have a place in mitigating severe and prolonged post-ECT delirium.