title: Corrected QT interval changes during electroconvulsive therapy-antidepressants-atypical antipsychotics coadministration: safety issues.
abstract: Both old and newer antidepressants and some atypical antipsychotics, such as ziprasidone and quetiapine, used as augmentation agents in severe major depression, are known to increase corrected QT (QTc) interval. We investigated the safety of the coadministration of electroconvulsive therapy with an antidepressant-ziprasidone-quetiapine combination with respect to QTc interval in 6 female patients with severe major depression resistant to pharmacotherapy alone. Each patient underwent a series of 10 to 11 sessions of bilateral electroconvulsive therapy. Corrected QT intervals were calculated at baseline and several times up to 10 minutes after seizure cessation. Overall, QTc interval changes remained within normal limits, without the occurrence of any cardiac adverse events. Our findings suggest that the coadministration of these treatments might be safe, at least with respect to QTc interval changes.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece. oulisp@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oulis
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Florakis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markatou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tzanoulinos
authors.forename: Vasilios G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Masdrakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012449:Safety
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents