title: Electroconvulsive therapy in a psychiatric intensive care unit.
abstract: This study reviewed all patients (N = 37) treated with ECT in a psychiatric intensive care unit during 1989-91. Diagnoses were: psychotic depression (8); bipolar disorder, manic phase (13); schizoaffective disorder (14); and schizophrenia (2). All patients were very severely disturbed and had failed to respond to medication given at highest levels judged to be safe, usually over 3-4 weeks. Response to ECT was generally rapid and marked, allowing substantial reductions in medication. To achieve the same clinical outcome for each course of ECT, 50% more unilateral than bilateral treatments were required, suggesting that bilateral ECT has a more rapid effect in this highly disturbed population.
authors.affiliation: Dibden Research Unit, Glenside Hospital, Eastwood, South Australia.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hafner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holme
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006760:Hospitalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D002220:Carbamazepine; D002998:Clonazepam