Visuospatial impairment in depression: a controlled ECT study.
In order to study the effect of bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on visuospatial function in depression, a comparison was made between the performance of 20 ECT-treated patients and 20 healthy controls on a battery of neuropsychological tests including the Complex Figure Test (CFT) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The CFT but not the MMSE performances of depressives vs controls were impaired in pre-ECT testing. While ECT does not affect visuospatial performance, cognitive deficits are unveiled by MMSE. Possible meanings of these findings are discussed.
Rossi
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A
Department of Clinical Psychiatry, University of L'Aquila School of Medicine, Italy.
Stratta
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P
Nistico
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R
Sabatini
M D
MD
Di Michele
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V
Casacchia
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M
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011597:Psychomotor Performance