title: Improved food intake and weight gain in adult patients following electroconvulsive therapy for depression.
abstract: Six elderly patients were referred for nutrition assessment and treatment because of poor dietary intake and weight loss associated with a major depressive illness. The patients underwent electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) administered by their psychiatrists approximately 3 times per week. During ECT, all patients increased their caloric intake (280 +/- 180 to 1,510 +/- 60 kcal/day, mean +/- SEM) to exceed their basal energy expenditure; major improvements in their depressive symptoms and weight gain were seen in five of the six patients. Increased caloric intake seen with ECT may be an early, clinical criterion for identifying the effectiveness of antidepressant therapy when depression is associated with anorexia and reduced energy intake.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition/Metabolism Laboratory, New England Deaconess Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tayek
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Bistrian
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Blackburn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged