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Is There a Delay in the Onset of the Antidepressant Effect of Electroconvulsive Therapy?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Colin R. Rodger ,
Allan I. F. Scott  and
Lawrence J. Whalley
Colin R. Rodger*
Affiliation:
High Royds Hospital, Menston, Ilkley, West Yorkshire LS29 6AQ
Allan I. F. Scott
Affiliation:
Andrew Duncan Clinic, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh
Lawrence J. Whalley
Affiliation:
University Department of Mental Health, Aberdeen
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

The severity of depression in 11 drug-free unipolar patients diagnosed with definite major depressive disorder was assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression during a course (5–10 treatments) of bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The degree of improvement after three treatments of ECT was six times greater than the improvement that occurred over the remainder of the course. Although depressed patients who recover with ECT require repeated treatments, the treatments early in a course of ECT can have marked antidepressant effect.

Type
Short Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 164 , Issue 1 , January 1994 , pp. 106 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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