Post-ECT cognitive defect and elevation of blood pressure.
There is evidence that ECT causes a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier through the rise of blood pressure it induced. Using the Benton test of cognitive function the day before and three hours after ECT treatment in 27 depressed patients, impairment of function was highly correlated with the maximum rise of systolic BP during the treatment.
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged