title: Isoflurane Anesthesia Therapy: A Replacement for ECT in Depressive Disorders?
abstract: Isoflurane anesthesia therapy (IAT) has been suggested to have persistent antidepressant activity. In a replication trial, IAT was performed in six patients who had a recurrence of a severe depressive episode, previously treated with ECT. In 21 of 26 IAT sessions, an isoelectric electroencephalogram lasting between 5 and 12 min was recorded. Clinical antidepressant activity was not observed. It is concluded that IAT is not an effective replacement for ECT in the treatment of major depressive disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence B.
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gage
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vitkun
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fink