title: Age-Dependent Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Memory.
abstract: We examined the relation between age and recovery of memory functions after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In a group of patients 20-65 years of age, older depressed patients treated with ECT experienced more severe and longer lasting memory deficits than did younger patients. Testing conducted 24-72 h after a course of ECT showed more severe deficits in older patients for verbal and visuospatial anterograde memory, and for retrograde memory. The difference between younger and older subjects was marginal at 1 month follow-up, seen only in differences in verbal anterograde memory. At 6 months follow-up, no difference in memory test scores between older and younger patients was observed. Older patients are more vulnerable to cognitive effects of ECT, and these effects last longer.
authors.affiliation: State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA.
authors.forename: Iannis M.
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Zervas
authors.forename: Avraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calev
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jandorf
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaudino
authors.forename: Nurith
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tubi
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lerer
authors.forename: Baruch
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shapira