Unilateral Ultrabrief Pulse Electroconvulsive Therapy Research Articles

Absence of Longer Reorientation Times in Patients Undergoing Electroconvulsive Therapy and Concomitant Treatment with Lithium.

ObjectiveLithium is a drug of choice in the treatment of bipolar disorder and refractory depressive disorders. However, previous research suggests lithium has a negative cognitive impact in recovery from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and a higher risk of delirium, so patients are often required to stop taking lithium before ECT, despite risk of relapse. We studied the cognitive impact of serum lithium levels in patients undergoing ECT.MethodsThis was an observational prospective study. Serum lithium levels, thyroid and biochemical parameters were measured prior to each ECT session. Time elapsed from the anesthetic induction to the electrical stimulus and then to the patients’ reorientation was recorded, as well as the motor seizure duration and electroencephalogram (EEG) seizure duration. A statistical analysis using a linear mixed model was run while adjusting for confounding factors.ResultsTen participants underwent a total of 86 ECT sessions (41% right unilateral ultrabrief pulse, and 59% bilateral brief pulse). A negative interaction between lithium levels and reorientation time was found among those doing bilateral brief pulse ECT. No association was observed in patients doing unilateral ultrabrief pulse ECT. No significant relationship was observed between lithium and both motor and EEG-assessed seizure duration.ConclusionThis study suggests that low to moderate serum lithium levels (< 0.7 mmol/L) might have no harmful cognitive effects in patients under right unilateral ultrabrief pulse and bilateral brief pulse ECT.

Rate of continuing acute course treatment using right unilateral ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive therapy at a large academic medical center.

Right unilateral ultrabrief pulse (RUL-UBP) ECT has emerged as a promising technique for minimizing cognitive side effects of ECT while retaining clinical efficacy, but it is unknown how often patients will require alternative treatment parameters and at what point in the treatment course this occurs. To better define this problem, this study analyzes continuation in RUL-UBP ECT in a retrospective cohort of patients beginning acute course treatment. A single-center retrospective chart review was conducted of adult patients receiving a first lifetime course of ECT from 2010 to 2017 starting with RUL-UBP treatment parameters. 1793 patients met study criteria. Patients received a mean of 10.0 ± 3.2 ECT treatments, of which a mean of 8.4 ± 3.4 were RUL-UBP treatments; proportion using RUL-UBP through 12 treatments was 57.8%. In total, 65.6% of patients were treated with RUL-UPB ECT exclusively. Mean dose increased from 7.6 × seizure threshold at the second RUL-UBP treatment to 14.3 × seizure threshold at the twelfth RUL-UBP treatment. Rates of continuation in RUL-UBP ECT did not differ based on age or on primary diagnosis of major depression vs. bipolar disorder. Among patients beginning acute-course treatment using RUL-UPB ECT, two thirds were treated with these parameters exclusively. Among patients who received twelve RUL-UBP treatments, mean final dose was 14.3 × seizure threshold. Further studies regarding optimal dosing of RUL-UBP ECT are indicated.

Total Charge Required to Induce a Seizure in a Retrospective Cohort of Patients Undergoing Dose Titration of Right Unilateral Ultrabrief Pulse Electroconvulsive Therapy.

The use of ultrabrief pulse (UBP) stimuli and individual seizure threshold determination have been proposed as ways of minimizing the cognitive side effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), but large samples of patients receiving UBP ECT are lacking. This study reports a retrospective cohort of patients receiving an index course of right unilateral UBP ECT and characterizes the amount of charge required to induce a seizure. A single-center retrospective chart review was conducted of adult patients receiving a first lifetime course of ECT using an UBP titration from 2005 to 2017. There were 2328 patients that received a dose titration during the study period, with a mean dose of 21.82 ± 21.61 mC applied to induce a seizure. During the early part of the study period, a mean dose of 18.73 ± 8.99 mC was used, with 28% of patients seizing at a dose of less than 19.2 mC. In the later period, the initial step of dose titration was standardized at 19.2 mC, yielding a mean initial dose to induce a seizure of 22.72 ± 24.00 mC. Mean seizure thresholds may be lower than reported in previous studies, and a significant proportion of patients may have a seizure threshold lower than the first step of many existing dose titration protocols.

A two-site, open-label, non-randomized trial comparing Focal Electrically-Administered Seizure Therapy (FEAST) and right unilateral ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive therapy (RUL-UBP ECT)

BackgroundFocal Electrically-Administered Seizure Therapy (FEAST) is a form of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) that spatially focuses the electrical stimulus to initiate seizure activity in right prefrontal cortex. Two open-label non-comparative studies suggested that FEAST has reduced cognitive side effects when compared to historical data from other forms of ECT. In two different ECT clinics, we compared the efficacy and cognitive side effects of FEAST and Right Unilateral Ultrabrief Pulse (RUL-UBP) ECT. MethodsUsing a non-randomized, open-label design, 39 depressed adults were recruited after referral for ECT. Twenty patients received FEAST (14 women; age 45.2 ± 12.7), and 19 received RUL-UBP ECT (16 women; age 43.2 ± 16.4). Key cognitive outcome measures were the postictal time to reorientation and the Columbia University Autobiographical Memory Interview: Short-Form (CUAMI-SF). Antidepressant effects were assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD24). ResultsIn the Intent-to-treat sample, a repeated measures mixed model suggested no between group difference in HRSD24 score over time (F1,35 = 0.82, p = 0.37), while the response rate favored FEAST (FEAST: 65%; RUL-UBP ECT: 57.9%), and the remission rate favored RUL-UBP ECT (FEAST: 35%; RUL-UBP ECT: 47.4%). The FEAST group had numeric superiority in average time to reorientation (FEAST: 6.6 ± 5.0 min; RUL-UBP ECT: 8.8 ± 5.8 min; Cohens d = 0.41), and CUAMI-SF consistency score (FEAST: 69.2 ± 14.2%; RUL-UBP ECT: 63.9 ± 9.9%; Cohens d = 0.43); findings that failed to meet statistical significance. ConclusionsFEAST exerts similar efficacy relative to an optimal form of conventional ECT and may have milder cognitive side effects. A blinded, randomized, non-inferiority trial is needed.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for moderate-severity major depression among the elderly: Data from the pride study

BackgroundElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is usually reserved for treatment of severe major depressive disorder (MDD), but may be equally effective in the treatment of moderate-severity MDD. This possibility, however, has only been studied to a very limited extent. We therefore investigated the efficacy of ECT after stratifying patients into severe MDD and moderate-severity MDD. MethodsWe used data from the Prolonging Remission in Depressed Elderly (PRIDE) study, in which 240 patients (≥60 years) with MDD were treated with right unilateral ultrabrief pulse ECT, combined with venlafaxine. We used the six-item core depression subscale (HAM-D6) of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale to define depression severity. Participants with baseline total scores ≥12 on the HAM-D6 were considered to have severe MDD, while those with HAM-D6 total scores <12 were considered to have moderate-severity MDD. ResultsAmong the participants with severe MDD and moderate-severity MDD, the mean change in the HAM-D6 total score from baseline to endpoint was -8.2 (95% confidence interval (95%CI) = -7.5; -9.0, paired t-test: p < 0.001) and -5.9 (95%CI = -5.1; -6.6, paired t-test: p < 0.001), respectively. A total of 63% of those with severe MDD and 75% of those with moderate-severity MDD achieved remission (HAM-D6 total score ≤4) (Pearson's 2-sample chi-squared test of difference between groups: p = 0.27). LimitationsThe PRIDE study was not designed to address this research question. ConclusionsECT combined with venlafaxine appears to be an effective treatment for moderate-severity MDD. It may be appropriate to expand the indications for ECT to include patients with moderate-severity MDD.

A two-site, open-label, non-randomized update, suggests focal electrically administered seizure therapy (FEAST) may have a reduced time to re-orientation compared to right unilateral ultra-brief pulse electroconvulsive therapy (UBP-RUL ECT)

Background: Focal Electrically Administered Seizure Therapy (FEAST) is a form of ECT which maximally focuses the electrical stimulus to the frontal lobe. Recent open-label studies suggest that FEAST’s enhanced focality may lead to reduced cognitive side effects (1, 2), however there are no studies directly comparing FEAST to other forms of ECT (such as Right Unilateral Ultra-Brief Pulse Electroconvulsive therapy (UBP-RUL-ECT). We subsequently compared the efficacy, and cognitive side effect burden of FEAST and UBP-RUL-ECT.

Effects of a Course of Right Unilateral Ultrabrief Pulse Electroconvulsive Therapy Combined With Venlafaxine on Insomnia Symptoms in Elderly Depressed Patients

Antidepressant medications have a variety of effects on sleep, apart from their antidepressant effects. It is unknown whether electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has effects on perceived sleep in depressed patients. This secondary analysis examines the effects of ECT on perceived sleep, separate from its antidepressant effects. Elderly patients with major depressive disorder, as defined by DSM-IV, received open-label high-dose, right unilateral ultrabrief pulse ECT, combined with venlafaxine, as part of participating in phase 1 of the National Institute of Mental Health-supported study Prolonging Remission in Depressed Elderly (PRIDE). Phase 1 of PRIDE participant enrollment period extended from February 2009 to August 2014. Depression severity was measured with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 item (HDRS₂₄), and measures of insomnia severity were extracted from the HDRS₂₄. Participants were characterized at baseline as either "high-insomnia" or "low-insomnia" subtypes, based upon the sum of the 3 HDRS₂₄ sleep items as either 4-6 or 0-3, respectively. Insomnia scores were followed during ECT and were adjusted for the sum of all the HDRS₂₄ non-sleep items. Generalized linear models were used for longitudinal analysis of insomnia scores. Two hundred forty patients participated, with 48.3% in the high-insomnia and 51.7% in the low-insomnia group. Although there was a reduction in the insomnia scores in the high-insomnia group, only 12.4% of them experienced remission of insomnia after a course of ECT, despite an increase in utilization of sleep aids across the course of ECT, from 8.6% to 23.2%. The degree of improvement in insomnia symptoms paralleled the degree of improvement in non-insomnia symptoms. A "low" amount of improvement on the sum of the HDRS non-insomnia items (HDRS-sleep) was accompanied by a "low" amount of improvement in insomnia scores (change of -1.6 ± 1.2, P < .0001), while a "high" amount of improvement on the sum of the HDRS non-insomnia items was accompanied by a "higher" amount of improvement in insomnia scores (change of -3.1 ± 1.6, P < .0001). After adjustment for non-insomnia symptoms, there was no change in insomnia in the low-insomnia group. We found that ECT, combined with venlafaxine, has a modest anti-insomnia effect that is linked to its antidepressant effect. Most patients will have some degree of residual insomnia after ECT, and will require some consideration of whether additional, targeted assessment and treatment of insomnia is warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01028508.

Effects of a right unilateral ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive therapy course on health related quality of life in elderly depressed patients

IntroductionPatients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) referred for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have poorer Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL), compared with other patients with MDD, but ECT is associated with significant and durable improvement in HRQOL. However, no prior research has focused exclusively on elderly patients with MDD receiving ECT. MethodsHRQOL data from 240 depressed patients over the age of 60 was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36). The SF-36 was measured before and after a course of acute ECT. Predictors of change in HRQOL scores were identified by generalized linear modeling. ResultsAt baseline, participants showed very poor HRQOL. After treatment with ECT, the full sample showed marked and significant improvement across all SF-36 measures, with the largest gains seen in dimensions of mental health. Across all participants, the Physical Component Summary (PCS) score improved by 2.1 standardized points (95% CI, 0.61,3.56), while the Mental Component Summary (MCS) score improved by 12.5 points (95% CI, 7.2,10.8) Compared with non-remitters, remitters showed a trend toward greater improvement in the PCS summary score of 2.7 points (95%CI, −0.45, 5.9), while the improvement in the MCS summary score was significantly greater (8.5 points, 95% CI, 4.6,12.3) in the remitters than non-remitters. Post-ECT SF-36 measurements were consistently and positively related to baseline scores and remitter/non-remitter status or change in depression severity from baseline. Objective measures of cognitive function had no significant relationships to changes in SF-36 scores. LimitationsThis study's limitations include that it was an open label study with no comparison group, and generalizability is limited to elderly patients. DiscussionECT providers and elderly patients with MDD treated with ECT can be confident that ECT will result in improved HRQOL in the short-term. Attaining remission is a key factor in the improvement of HRQOL. Acute changes in select cognitive functions were outweighed by improvement in depressive symptoms in determining the short term HRQOL of the participants treated with ECT.

Unilateral ultra-brief pulse electroconvulsive therapy for depression in Parkinson's disease.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has demonstrated efficacy in treating core symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD); however, widespread use of ECT in PD has been limited due to concern over cognitive burden. We investigated the use of a newer ECT technology known to have fewer cognitive side effects (right unilateral [RUL] ultra-brief pulse [UBP]) for the treatment of medically refractory psychiatric dysfunction in PD. This open-label pilot study included 6 patients who were assessed in the motoric, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric domains prior to and after RUL UBP ECT. Primary endpoints were changes in total score on the HAM-D-17 and GDS-30 rating scales. Patients were found to improve in motoric and psychiatric domains following RUL UBP ECT without cognitive side effects, both immediately following ECT and at 1-month follow-up. This study demonstrates that RUL UBP ECT is safe, feasible, and potentially efficacious in treating multiple domains of PD, including motor and mood, without clear cognitive side effects.

Efficacy and Cognitive Side Effects After Brief Pulse and Ultrabrief Pulse Right Unilateral Electroconvulsive Therapy for Major Depression

To compare the efficacy and cognitive side effects of high-dose unilateral brief pulse electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with those of high-dose unilateral ultrabrief pulse ECT in the treatment of major depression. From April 2007 until March 2011, we conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized multicenter trial in 3 tertiary psychiatric hospitals. All patients with a depressive disorder according to DSM-IV criteria were eligible. Depression severity was assessed with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale; primary efficacy outcomes were response, defined as a score decrease ≥ 60% from baseline, and remission, defined as a score < 10 at 2 consecutive weekly assessments. Total scores on the Autobiographical Memory Interview and Amsterdam Media Questionnaire were the primary outcome measures for retrograde amnesia. Other cognitive domains included category fluency (semantic memory) and letter fluency (lexical memory). Patients received twice-weekly unilateral brief pulse (1.0 millisecond) or ultrabrief pulse (0.3-0.4 millisecond) ECT 8 times seizure threshold until remission, for a maximum of 6 weeks. Of the 116 patients, 75% (n = 87) completed the study. Among completers, 68.4% (26/58) of those in the brief pulse group achieved remission versus 49.0% (24/49) of those in the ultrabrief pulse group (P = .019), and the brief pulse group needed fewer treatment sessions to achieve remission: mean (SD) of 7.1 (2.6) versus 9.2 (2.3) sessions (P = .008). No significant group differences were found in the evaluation of the cognitive assessments. The efficacy and speed of remission seen with high-dose brief pulse right unilateral ECT twice weekly were superior to those seen with high-dose ultrabrief pulse right unilateral ECT, with equal cognitive side effects as defined by retrograde amnesia, semantic memory, and lexical memory. Netherlands National Trial Register number: NTR1304.

Chronic Catatonic Schizophrenia Treated Successfully With Right Unilateral Ultrabrief Pulse Electroconvulsive Therapy

Catatonia is a syndrome with prominent motor and behavioral symptoms commonly seen in acutely ill psychiatric patients. Catatonic symptoms have been considered as positive predictors of response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT); however, few studies so far have addressed the role of ECT treatment technique in schizophrenia. We present the case of a 41-year-old woman with chronic catatonic schizophrenia who was treated successfully with a course of ultrabrief right unilateral ECT.

Efficacy of Right Unilateral Ultrabrief Pulse Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): Data from Phase 1 of the PRIDE Study

Efficacy of Right Unilateral Ultrabrief Pulse Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): Data from Phase 1 of the PRIDE Study

The successful use of right unilateral ultra-brief pulse electroconvulsive therapy in an adolescent with catatonia

Right unilateral ultra-brief electroconvulsive therapy (RUL UB ECT) has been shown to be efficacious with minimal cognitive adverse effects in adult patients with major depression. We present the case of a 14-year-old girl with major depressive disorder with catatonic and psychotic features whose symptoms remitted after 12 treatments of RUL UB ECT.

Randomized comparison of ultra-brief bifrontal and unilateral electroconvulsive therapy for major depression: cognitive side-effects

Objective The cognitive side-effects of bifrontal (BF) and right unilateral (UL) ultra-brief pulse (0.3 ms) electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were compared, in the treatment of patients with a depressive episode. Method Neuropsychological functioning in patients with a medication refractory depressive episode, that were treated with a course of BF ultra-brief ECT at 1.5 times seizure threshold (ST) or UL ultra-brief ECT at 6 times ST, by random assignment, was assessed before treatment, and 1 and 6 weeks after the treatment course, by a blinded rater. Results Of the 64 patients that were included, 32 (50%) received BF ECT, and 32 (50%) received UL ECT, by random assignment. Neuropsychological testing 1 and 6 weeks after treatment was performed by 30 (93.75%) and 19 (59.37%) patients, respectively, in the BF-group and 29 (90.62%) and 20 (62.50%), respectively, in the UL-group. There was no deterioration in any of the neuropsychological measures. Patients rated their memory as clearly improved after treatment. There were no significant differences between the patients given BF ECT and those given UL ECT. Conclusions Ultrabrief pulse ECT, used either in combination with a UL electrode position and a stimulus of 6 times ST, or a BF electrode position with a stimulus of 1.5 times ST, are effective antidepressant techniques, that do not have a deleterious effect on cognitive function.

Randomized comparison of ultra-brief bifrontal and unilateral electroconvulsive therapy for major depression: Clinical efficacy

Background It has been suggested that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with an ultra-brief pulse width in combination with a bilateral electrode placement has diminished antidepressive efficacy, as compared to unilateral ultra-brief pulse ECT. Objective The antidepressive efficacy of bifrontal and right unilateral ultra-brief pulse (0.3 ms) ECT were compared. Method Eighty-one patients with a medication refractory depressive episode were treated with a course of bifrontal ultra-brief pulse ECT at 1.5 times seizure threshold or unilateral ultra-brief pulse ECT at 6 times seizure threshold by random assignment. The 17 item-Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), Beck Depression Inventory, Clinical Global Impression and Patient Global Impression were administered at baseline and repeated weekly during and 1 and 6 weeks after the course, by a blinded rater. Results 64/81 patients (79%) completed the study, half of which were treated with bifrontal ECT. At the end of the course, 78.1% of the BF group and 78.1% of the UL group responded, whereas, 34.38% ( N = 11) of the BF group and 43.75% ( N = 14) of the UL group achieved strict remission criteria (HRSD-score ≤ 7). There were no significant differences between the patients given bifrontal ECT and those given unilateral ECT, although patients receiving unilateral ECT achieved response/remission-criteria after a smaller number of treatments. Limitations Relatively small number of subjects. Conclusions Using an ultra-brief pulse width, both BF and UL-ECT are efficacious, although patients receiving UL-ECT achieve response/remission-criteria after a smaller number of treatments. Trial registry: http://www.controlled-trials.com/ Registration number: ISRCTN56570426

Comparison of Bifrontal and Unilateral Ultra-Brief Pulse Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression

Comparison of Bifrontal and Unilateral Ultra-Brief Pulse Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression

P.2.a.006 Comparison of bifrontal and unilateral ultra-brief pulse electroconvulsive therapy for depression

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is effective in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). It may act through intracellular process modulation, but its exact mechanism is still unknown. Animal research supports a neurotrophic effect for ECT. We aimed to investigate the association between changes in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (sBDNF) levels and clinical improvement following ECT in patients with TRD. Twenty-one patients with TRD (2 men, 19 women; mean age, 63.5 years; S.D., 11.9) were assessed through the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and the Clinical Global Impressions scale, Severity (CGIs) before and after a complete ECT cycle. At the same time-points, patients underwent blood withdrawal for measuring sBDNF levels. ECT significantly reduced HDRS, BPRS, and CGIS scores, but not sBDNF levels. No significant correlation was found between sBDNF changes, and each of HDRS, BPRS, and CGIs score changes. sBDNF levels in TRD patients were low both at baseline and post-ECT. Our results do not support that improvements in TRD following ECT are mediated through increases in sBDNF levels.