| |
| |
| |
Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
 | |
|
| The benefits and risks of ECT for patients with primary dementia who also suffer from depression | | Author(s) | Vani Rao, Constantine G Lyketsos |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 15, no 8, August 2000 |
| Pages | pp 729-735 |
| Keywords | Psychiatric treatment ; Dementia ; Depression ; United States of America. |
| Annotation | The use of electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) with dementia patients is concerning, because of possible adverse effects on memory and cognition; and outcome studies of ECT in patients with primary dementia and depression are rare. A chart review was conducted of all 31 patients with a discharge diagnosis of "dementia with depression" treated with ECT at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore over a 5-year period. Admission and discharge ratings were made using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) as part of the clinical routine. 55% had vascular dementia, 13% Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 32% degenerative dementia of uncertain aetiology. While 49% of patients developed delirium, by discharge there was also a significant mean increase (improvement) in MMSE. ECT is an effective treatment for depression in dementia, leading to improvements in both mood and cognition. Multiple ECT treatments may be necessary before a significant improvement in mood is achieved. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-001107204 A |
| Classmark | LP: EA: ENR: 7T |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
|
| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
| |
|
|