Electroconvulsive therapy in a psychiatric intensive care unit

This study reviewed all patients (N = 37) treated with ECT in a psychiatric intensive care unit during 1989-91. Diagnoses were: psychotic depression (8); bipolar disorder, manic phase (13); schizoaffective disorder (14); and schizophrenia (2). All patients were very severely disturbed and had failed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAustralian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry Vol. 28; no. 2; p. 269
Main Authors Hafner, R J, Holme, G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.06.1994
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Australia
Carbamazepine - therapeutic use
Clonazepam - therapeutic use
Combined Modality Therapy
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Female
Functional Laterality
Hospitalization
Hospitals, Psychiatric
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Lithium Carbonate - therapeutic use
Male
Mental Disorders - drug therapy
Mental Disorders - rehabilitation
Middle Aged
Patient Admission
Treatment Outcome
Australia
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Summary:This study reviewed all patients (N = 37) treated with ECT in a psychiatric intensive care unit during 1989-91. Diagnoses were: psychotic depression (8); bipolar disorder, manic phase (13); schizoaffective disorder (14); and schizophrenia (2). All patients were very severely disturbed and had failed to respond to medication given at highest levels judged to be safe, usually over 3-4 weeks. Response to ECT was generally rapid and marked, allowing substantial reductions in medication. To achieve the same clinical outcome for each course of ECT, 50% more unilateral than bilateral treatments were required, suggesting that bilateral ECT has a more rapid effect in this highly disturbed population.
ISSN:0004-8674
DOI:10.1080/00048679409075638