Electroconvulsive therapy and cognitive functions in treatment-resistant depression

Objectives. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for drug-resistant depression (DRD). We estimated the short- and long-term effects of ECT on cognitive functions in patients with unipolar and bipolar DRD. Methods. We investigated 63 patients (18 male, 45 female), aged 34-7...

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Published inThe world journal of biological psychiatry Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 159 - 164
Main Authors Bodnar, Anna, Krzywotulski, Milosz, Lewandowska, Anna, Chlopocka-Wozniak, Maria, Bartkowska-Sniatkowska, Alicja, Michalak, Michal, Rybakowski, Janusz K.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Taylor & Francis 17.02.2016
Subjects
Adult
Aged
bipolar depression
Cognition
cognitive functions
Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant - therapy
drug-resistant depression
Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive Therapy - adverse effects
Executive Function
Female
Humans
Intelligence Tests
Male
Memory
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Poland
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Treatment Outcome
unipolar depression
Verbal Learning
bipolar depression
drug-resistant depression
Electroconvulsive therapy
unipolar depression
cognitive functions
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Summary:Objectives. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for drug-resistant depression (DRD). We estimated the short- and long-term effects of ECT on cognitive functions in patients with unipolar and bipolar DRD. Methods. We investigated 63 patients (18 male, 45 female), aged 34-75 years. Cognitive assessments were performed before, immediately after 6-12 ECT sessions, and 3 months thereafter, using the Benton Visual Retention, Trail Making (TMT), Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) tests, the Digit Span of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning (RAVLT), verbal fluency and Stroop tests. Results. Immediately after ECT, a significant worsening was noted in some indices of memory and verbal fluency. However, 3 months after ECT, the indices of both RAVLT and verbal fluency significantly improved compared to baseline, and those of the Benton and ROCF were significantly better than before ECT. The Digit Span, Stroop and TMT were not affected by the treatment. Conclusions. The negative effects of ECT on the reported measures of cognition are transient. After 3 months, the indices of memory were significantly better than before the treatment. In addition to its antidepressant effect in DRD, ECT may also exert a long-term favourable influence on some cognitive functions.
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ISSN:1562-2975
1814-1412
DOI:10.3109/15622975.2015.1091501