A reappraisal of the role of caffeine in ECT.
Caffeine lengthens ECT seizures, perhaps by lowering the convulsive threshold. The authors assessed the impact of caffeine on the convulsive threshold and seizure duration. The convulsive threshold and seizure durations of 12 inpatients receiving right unilateral ECT were determined with and without caffeine pretreatment. Caffeine did not change the convulsive threshold, but it did lengthen seizure duration. Caffeine's lengthening of seizure duration without affecting the convulsive threshold is an uncertain benefit in right unilateral ECT.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157.
W V
WV
McCall
S
S
Reid
P
P
Rosenquist
A
A
Foreman
N
N
Kiesow-Webb
D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011292:Premedication; D013997:Time Factors
D002110:Caffeine