title: Early Change in Cognitive Performance Accompanying Bilateral ECT.
abstract: In order to characterize the onset and evolution of early cognitive changes that accompany bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), the performance of 13 ECT-treated and 16 psychiatric control patients on a battery of neuropsychological tests administered daily was compared. These tests included: Digit Symbol, spokes, letter cancellation, and short-term memory tests. While both groups improved on all tests, performance of ECT patients vs. controls on letter cancellation tests diverged significantly (p < 0.005) after three ECTs. The authors speculate that this finding reflects an alteration in attentional processes caused by bilateral ECT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas B.
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: Trevor R. P.
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Gary J.
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Charles M.
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Culver