[Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in elderly psychotic unipolar depression].
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of continuation/maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in elderly psychotic major depressed patients after ECT remission.


METHODS
Using a longitudinal randomized single-blind design, we compared the two-year outcome of two subgroups of psychotic unipolar depressed elderly patients who were ECT remitters: one treated with a maintenance nortriptyline regimen (n = 13) and one treated with combined maintenance ECT plus nortriptyline (n = 6).


RESULTS
During 2 years of maintenance treatment in elderly psychotic unipolar depressed ECT remitters, relapse/recurrence rates were significantly higher in the nortriptyline subgroup than in the combined ECT plus nortriptyline subgroup. The tolerability of both treatments was similar.


CONCLUSIONS
This study supports the use of combined maintenance ECT and antidepressant treatment in elderly psychotic unipolar depressed patients who are ECT remitters.
Serra
Montserrat
M
Instituto Clínico de Psiquiatría y Psicología, Hospital Clínic, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Gastó
Cristóbal
C
Navarro
Víctor
V
Torres
Xavier
X
Blanch
Jordi
J
Masana
Guillem
G
D000368:Aged; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D009661:Nortriptyline