title: Factors Influencing Response to Bilateral Electroconvulsive Therapy in Major Depression.
abstract: The records of 52 patients with major depression who were treated with bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were reviewed. Responders and nonresponders were compared on demographic, clinical, and treatment parameters. ECT nonresponders had a longer duration of current depressive episode as well as a greater initial severity of depression. The groups did not differ in age, sex, polarity, presence of psychosis, pre-ECT pharmacotherapy, and treatment parameters other than total electrical charge administered. Patients with long episode duration and greater severity of illness may represent a subgroup of major depressives relatively refractory to ECT and warranting novel therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kindler
authors.forename: Baruch
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hadjez
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abramowitz
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brom
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lerer