ECT-induced EEG asymmetry and therapeutic response in melancholia: relation to treatment electrode placement.
Six right-unilateral and bilateral ECTs were equally effective in reducing Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores in 34 melancholic patients whose EEG symmetry did not change after ECT. However, a substantial therapeutic advantage was recorded for bilateral ECT in those patients whose EEG symmetry changed. Accentuation of ECT-induced EEG slowing over the right hemisphere was associated with right-unilateral ECT and a lesser treatment response, suggesting that the therapeutic advantage reported by some investigators for bilateral over right-unilateral ECT may be attributed to a poor outcome experienced by those unilateral ECT patients who developed right-sided EEG slowing.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003700:Delta Rhythm; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013826:Theta Rhythm