scholarly journals Administration of electroconvulsive therapy: training, practice and attitudes

1993 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 154-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Henderson ◽  
Marilyn J. Anderson ◽  
Cameron R. Stark
Keyword(s):  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Therapy Training ◽  
Training Practice

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment in severe depressive illness (Kendell, 1981). It is unusual in being administered predominantly by junior doctors, although prescribed by consultants. Pippard (1988) has drawn attention to a tendency for practice to depend on established custom rather than research evidence, and to a lack of consultant involvement in ECT teaching.

Which Depressed Patients will Respond to Electroconvulsive Therapy?

1989 ◽  
Vol 154 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan I. F. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Seizure Threshold ◽  
Posterior Pituitary ◽  
Clinical Predictors ◽  
Depressed Patients ◽  
Wide Range

A small yet significant minority of contemporary patients with endogenous depressive illness who are treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) gain little or no benefit. It is argued that the use of clinical features alone may not improve the ability to predict outcome after ECT. Many biological measures have been used to attempt to identify depressed patients for whom ECT would be an effective treatment, but none has yet been shown to be superior to clinical predictors. Depressed patients show a wide range of physiological responses to the first treatment of a course of ECT. Of these physiological responses, estimations of seizure threshold and of the release of posterior pituitary peptides merit further investigation as putative predictors of recovery.

scholarly journals Short duration induced seizures and therapeutic outcome at electroconvulsive therapy applications

1992 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 408-410
Author(s):  
J. P. Joyce
Keyword(s):  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Short Duration ◽  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Seizure Activity ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Therapeutic Outcome

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is reported the most effective treatment for severe endogenous depressive illness but may also be useful in the treatment of mania and schizophrenia. It seems that the seizure is a necessary component of the overall treatment but it is undecided what constitutes an adequate duration of seizure activity.

When should ECT be used?

1977 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-4
Keyword(s):  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Muscle Relaxants ◽  
House Of Commons ◽  
Mode Of Administration ◽  
Lay People ◽  
Harmful Effects

Though electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been widely used in depressive illness for over 30 years, its use is empirical, its mode of action remains unknown, and some medical and lay people have asserted that its dangers outweigh its usefulness. Over the years the mode of administration has gradually changed with the introduction of anaesthetics and muscle relaxants. The number of shocks in a course of ECT has tended to lessen and unilateral ECT has some advantages.1 Nevertheless, recently the long-standing controversy on its use has increased. In some states in America legislation has been introduced to restrict it2 and questions on its possible harmful effects have been asked in the House of Commons.3

scholarly journals The Edinburgh Lithium Register

1989 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 611-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Kehoe ◽  
Anthony J. Mander
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Therapeutic Index ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Manic Depressive Illness ◽  
Manic Depressive ◽  
Standard Clinical Practice ◽  
Accepted Standard ◽  
Recent Edition

Lithium is widely used in psychiatry, mainly in the prophylaxis of manic-depressive illness. It is usually prescribed long term and because of its side effects, low therapeutic index and the possibility of toxicity, it is necessary to monitor serum lithium levels, thyroid function and renal status. Clinical guidelines are unclear; Vestergaard et al (1982) recommended that serum lithium and creatinine be checked every two to four months and thyroid function every six months. However, Crammer et al (1982) suggest that once stable levels are established, serum lithium need be checked only in response to clinical indications. The most recent edition of a widely read psychiatric text states that levels should be checked each six to eight weeks for as long as the patient continues on lithium (Loudon, 1988). Accepted standard clinical practice is thus unclear. It should be emphasised that these guidelines are not based on research evidence.

The Therapeutic Efficacy of Electroconvulsive Therapy (Ect) a Double Blind Controlled Trial of Ect and Simulated Ect

1978 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Therapeutic Efficacy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Double Blind

A double-blind controlled trial of ECT versus simulated ECT is described. The results show that real ECT is significantly superior to simulated ECT in the treatment of depressive illness.

Effect of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Erythrocyte Adenosine Triphosphatase Activity in Depressive Illness

1980 ◽  
Vol 137 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Whalley ◽  
M. Scott ◽  
H. W. Reading ◽  
J. E. Christie
Keyword(s):  
Atpase Activity ◽  
Erythrocyte Membrane ◽  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Adenosine Triphosphatase ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Slight Reduction ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Adenosine Triphosphatase Activity ◽  
Depressed Patients

SummaryErythrocyte membrane adenosine triphosphatase activities were examined in twelve unipolar depressed patients receiving ECT. Eleven patients undergoing diagnostic cystoscopy served as controls for the acute effects of anaesthesia, and sixteen healthy subjects served as non-depressed controls. The unipolar depressed patients had a slight reduction in their (Na++K+)-ATPase activity but effective ECT treatment was not associated with any increase in this activity. This approach is unlikely to cast further light on the membrane phenomenology of depressive illness.

scholarly journals An international perspective on the acceptability and sustainability of electroconvulsive therapy

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Maughan ◽  
Andrew Molodynski
Keyword(s):  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
International Perspective ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Robust Evidence

There is robust evidence that electroconvulsive therapy is an effective treatment for some mental illnesses. Despite this, its use remains controversial and is declining in some countries, with a consequent loss of skills and knowledge. This, and the view of it as a ‘treatment of last resort’, may undermine its sustainability.

Plasma noradrenaline response to electroconvulsive therapy in depressive illness

1997 ◽  
Vol 171 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. Kelly ◽  
S. J. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Plasma Noradrenaline ◽  
Clinical State ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Strong Trend ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Depression Ratings

BackgroundAbnormalities of catecholaminergic function have been hypothesised to cause depressive illness. Plasma noradrenaline can be used as a marker of central noradrenergic activity. It is of interest to examine the change in resting plasma noradrenaline in patients with depressive illness over a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and relate this to their clinical state.MethodPatients referred for ECT who suffered from DSM – III – R major depressive disorder or dysthymia were recruited. Blood samples were taken before and after each treatment, during a course of ECT, to measure plasma noradrenaline and Cortisol. Clinical ratings were carried out weekly during the course of ECT.ResultsPlasma noradrenaline fell significantly in those patients with melancholic/psychotic depressions but increased in those with non-melancholic depressive illness. There was a strong trend indicating that a fall in plasma noradrenaline was associated with improvement in depression ratings in the melancholic/psychotic patients only.ConclusionsElectroconvlusive therapy decreases plasma noradrenaline in melancholic/psychotic depressive illness and this shows a trend associated with clinical improvement.

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