title: Resolution of amnestic effects of an extended course of electroconvulsive therapy.
abstract: We report the case of a 79-year-old man who had an episode of severe major depression treated with an extended course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and multiple medication trials. Electroconvulsive therapy was only modestly beneficial, and he had significant cognitive effects. Neuropsychological testing at 2 different time points during the episode documented the cognitive deficits, as well as the time course of their resolution. He ultimately made a full recovery from his depressive episode with substantial improvement of ECT-related cognitive deficits. This case adds to the neuropsychological literature documenting the transient nature of ECT-induced cognitive effects.
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. charles.kellner@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kellner
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Strain
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spodek
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Creighton
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000647:Amnesia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003693:Delirium / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests