Efficacy of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Various Psychiatric Disorders: A Hospital Based Longitudinal Follow-up Study
Published: April 1, 2018 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2018/31410.11446
Yuman Kawoos, Irfan Ahmad Shah, Yasir H Rather, Zaid A Wani, Waris A Zarger
1. Senior Resident, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
2. Senior Resident, Department of Neurology, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
3. Consultant, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
4. Consultant, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
5. Postgraduate Student, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Correspondence
Dr. Yuman Kawoos,
Resident Doctors Hostel, IMHANS, Srinagar-190003, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
E-mail: yumankawoos@ymail.com
Introduction: Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is one of the neurobiological therapies available for the treatment of various psychiatric disorders especially those resistant to pharmacotherapy or, where a rapid response is needed.
Aim: To study the response of patients with different psychiatric disorders to ECT and study the relationship between seizure duration and response.
Materials and Methods: It was a longitudinal study where a total of 40 patients were studied. Patients aged =12 years, who were resistant to pharmacotherapy or, having conditions where rapid response was warranted like suicidality or catatonia were included in our study as cases. A written informed consent was taken from all patients or their caretakers wherever necessary. Scales for assessment of various disorders were applied before and after treatment.
Results: Majority of the patients 37.5% were in the age-group of 38-47 years followed by 22.5% in 28-37 years. Only 5% of patients were aged >60 years. Males were slightly higher in number as compared to females (21:19). Affective disorders formed the major group of the patients (75%) followed by schizophrenia (10%), obsessive compulsive disorder (10%) and mental retardation (5%). Overall, 75% of patients showed >50% response to ECT with maximum response seen in affective disorders. No significant relation was seen between seizure duration and response to ECT.
Conclusion: ECT is very effective for treating various psychiatric disorders especially affective disorders. ECT is life saving in conditions like catatonia and suicidality.
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