title: Motor seizure monitoring during electroconvulsive therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The occurrence of a seizure during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) should be confirmed. Most clinicians use motor seizure monitoring alone and recent guidelines have not considered electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring mandatory.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the potential pitfalls of motor seizure monitoring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consenting consecutive patients (n = 232) were prospectively studied at the first ECT session using both motor and EEG seizure monitoring. It was ensured (by titration) that all the patients had an adequate EEG seizure. Adequate and prolonged seizures were defined according to the latest recommendations of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Motor seizure was inadequate in 15 (7%) of patients. EEG seizure was prolonged in 38 (16%) of patients. Fifteen patients (39%) did not have a prolonged motor seizure. Motor seizure correlated well (r = 0.8, P < 0.001) with EEG seizure when the latter was adequate, but not when prolonged (r = 0.12, P > 0.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Motor seizure monitoring without EEG is undependable. The study provides a rational basis for the Royal College of Psychiatrists' definition of prolonged EEG seizure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mayur
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Gangadhar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Janakiramaiah
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Subbakrishna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology*