ECT: III: Enduring cognitive deficits?
Cognitive function was compared in carefully matched groups of ECT and non-ECT treated depressives and in matched normal volunteer controls on admission, at 4 months and at 7 months. ECT caused little impairment at 4 months and no impairment at 7 months on a comprehensive cognitive test battery. Severity of depression had a marked effect on cognitive function. Within the ECT group bilateral ECT caused more impairment than unilateral ECT one week after a course but 3 months later the differences had disappeared. They were equally antidepressant.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors