Cognitive Side Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Adolescents

• DOI: 10.1089/cap.2000.10.269
• Publication Date: 2009-01-30T04:25:43Z
• Authors: NEERA GHAZIUDDIN; DONNA LAUGHRIN; BRUNO GIORDANI
• Keywords: Verbal fluency test; Depression

The primary aim of this study was to determine the presence cognitive impairments among adolescents treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and whether these deficits would persist several months following treatment. Retrospective data resulting from standard clinical care a convenience sample naturalistic follow-up were used. Subjects 16 (13 females, 3 males; mean age = 15.9 ± 1.6 years) hospitalized mood disorder (unipolar depression 14, bipolar 2). Cognitive tests administered prior ECT compared results at 7.0 10.3 days last treatment second testing 8.5 4.9 after Comparison pre-ECT first post-ECT during 10 yielded significant concentration attention, verbal- visual-delayed recall, verbal fluency. A complete recovery functions noted testing. There no deficit in ability problem solve initial or subsequent parameters found be impaired few recovered over Therefore, there evidence long-term damage concentration, visual memory, motor strength executive processing, even early (within 7–10 days) period. These should regarded as preliminary, awaiting confirmation larger samples.