Medical problems of geriatric psychiatric patients and younger controls during electroconvulsive therapy.
Medical problems occurring during electroconvulsive therapy were studied in a population of 293 psychiatric inpatients who received 2,809 treatments. Geriatric patients (N = 199) developed significantly more medical problems that required medical treatment or temporary discontinuation of electroconvulsive therapy than did younger controls (N = 94). The most important of these were cardiovascular in nature. Despite their increased frequency, the majority of medical problems that occurred were reversible. Electroconvulsive therapy therefore appeared to be a safe procedure for elderly psychiatric patients.
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012737:Sex Factors