SUCCESSFUL USE OF ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEUROPSYCHIATRIC MANIFESTATIONS OF DEMENTIA WITH LEWY BODIES

Abstract

Introduction Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. DLB is characterized by progressive cognitive decline, executive dysfunction, visual hallucinations, fluctuating cognition, and Parkinsonism. Up to 65% of patients with Lewy Body Dementia have depression. Psychiatrists frequently treat individuals with DLB given prominent neuropsychiatric manifestations, including depression, hallucinations, delusions, agitation, and fluctuating cognition. Individuals with DLB require a comprehensive but specific treatment approach given sensitivity to both antipsychotic medications and anticholinergic side effects of other medications. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is often omitted from the treatment model for DLB because of limited evidence. We highlight the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in a case of DLB. Methods We provide a case report and literature review on the use of ECT for the treatment of DLB. A 67-year-old male veteran with depression, 10-year history of REM sleep behavior disorder, bradykinesia, three-year history of cognitive impairment, and visual hallucinations was admitted for depressed mood and disturbing visual hallucinations featuring a saw blade swinging around his head and somatic delusion of a water hose traversing his body. At night he moved to avoid being hit by the blade. His wife reported word-finding difficulty, memory problems, and having to manage their finances. Four years prior to presentation, he stopped working as a pastor due to inability to write sermons. On admission, his MOCA was 19/30 and QIDS was 22. Medication trials including paroxetine, sertraline, escitalopram, vilazodone, bupropion, mirtazapine, venlafaxine, quetiapine, aripiprazole, alprazolam, buspirone, and lorazepam failed to address his depression and hallucinations. Results Brain MRI was unremarkable, with mild microvascular ischemic changes in periventricular white matter. Iodine-123 dopamine transporter SPECT (DAT-scan) imaging showed abnormal uptake consistent with a Parkinsonian syndrome (supporting the diagnosis of DLB). Considering past medication failures, patient consented for an acute course of ECT. He received eight right unilateral (RUL) ultra-brief pulse treatments utilizing Mecta Spectrum over the course of three weeks without any major side effects. For muscle relaxation he received succinylcholine; methohexital and remifentanil were given for anesthesia. Over his acute course of treatment, charge was progressively increased from six, to eight, to ten times the seizure threshold. At the end of his acute course of eight ECT treatments, his MOCA improved from 19/30 to 23/30 and QIDS improved from 22 to 12. Following the course of ECT, his visual hallucinations disappeared, and he was more interactive, engaged, and less depressed. The patient's improvement is congruent with other case reports in the literature showing clinical improvement following ECT for symptoms related to DLB. A table with a literature review describing the use of ECT for DLB will be presented. Conclusions DLB presents frequently to psychiatrists secondary to prominent psychiatric manifestations of the illness such as mood and behavioral disturbances. The treatment of psychiatric symptoms in DLB is often challenging due to the sensitivity of antidopaminergic medications on motor symptoms. ECT is a feasible alternative to treat neuropsychiatric manifestations of DLB; however, infrequently considered due to fear of complications and stigma. Modifications to the treatment such us holding dopamine agonists the morning of ECT to avoid delirium, decreasing the frequency of ECT to twice per week to minimize cognitive effects, and close monitoring of the patient's cognitive function are measures that can be implemented to optimize ECT in this population. No double-blinded randomized control trials exist in this area; comparing standard treatment to ECT would help further delineate the role of ECT in treating patients with DLB. This research was funded by None.