title: How is electrocardiogram influenced by electroconvulsive therapy in males and females?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate and compare the P duration and P dispersion (Pd) between male and female patients with a primary diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia disorder before and after the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained electrocardiograms of 50 healthy young volunteers which included 25 female (group F, n = 25) and 25 male patients (group M, n = 25). We measured minimum and maximum P wave durations (Pmin, Pmax) and Pd in milliseconds. Electrocardiography was performed before electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and immediately after the ECT period after awakening. A 12-lead surface electrocardiogram was obtained from each subject in the supine position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The post-ECT P duration was significantly longer than the pre-ECT P duration in groups F and M (P = 0.01 and P = 0.008, respectively). The post-ECT Pd was significantly longer than the pre-ECT Pd in groups F and M (P = 0.0001 in both groups). A higher correlation (r) in group M was observed between the pre-ECT Pd and post-ECT P duration than in group F (r = 0.538, P = 006 in group M; r = 0.349, P = 08 in group F). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding hemodynamics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electroconvulsive therapy in both sexes may influence atrial conduction as evidenced by the significantly prolonged Pmax and Pd in patients with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Gaziantep University School of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey. aysemizrak@mynet.com
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mizrak
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganidagli
authors.forename: Haluk A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Savas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors