Twice versus thrice weekly ECT in melancholia: a double-blind prospective comparison.
Thirty patients with major depressive disorder of melancholic subtype were randomly allocated to receive ECT either twice or thrice a week. Double-blind ratings on the Hamilton Scale for Depression and Clinical Global impression showed no differences in the outcome through 4 weeks of trial as well as at 6-month follow-up. Cumulative seizure duration was higher in the thrice weekly group but not significantly so in spite of having received a significantly greater number of ECTs. The results indicate that ECT given thrice a week conferred no advantage over ECT given twice a week.
Gangadhar
B N
BN
Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
Janakiramaiah
N
N
Subbakrishna
D K
DK
Praveen
J
J
Reddy
A K
AK
D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011446:Prospective Studies
D007099:Imipramine