title: Predicting Retrograde Autobiographical Memory Changes Following Electroconvulsive Therapy: Relationships between Individual, Treatment, and Early Clinical Factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Loss of personal memories experienced prior to receiving electroconvulsive therapy is common and distressing and in some patients can persist for many months following treatment. Improved understanding of the relationships between individual patient factors, electroconvulsive therapy treatment factors, and clinical indicators measured early in the electroconvulsive therapy course may help clinicians minimize these side effects through better management of the electroconvulsive therapy treatment approach. In this study we examined the associations between the above factors for predicting retrograde autobiographical memory changes following electroconvulsive therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-four depressed participants with major depressive disorder were administered electroconvulsive therapy 3 times per week using either a right unilateral or bitemporal electrode placement and brief or ultrabrief pulse width. Verbal fluency and retrograde autobiographical memory (assessed using the Columbia Autobiographical Memory Interview - Short Form) were tested at baseline and after the last electroconvulsive therapy treatment. Time to reorientation was measured immediately following the third and sixth electroconvulsive therapy treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results confirmed the utility of measuring time to reorientation early during the electroconvulsive therapy treatment course as a predictor of greater retrograde amnesia and the importance of assessing baseline cognitive status for identifying patients at greater risk for developing later side effects. With increased number of electroconvulsive therapy treatments, older age was associated with increased time to reorientation. Consistency of verbal fluency performance was moderately correlated with change in Columbia Autobiographical Memory Interview - Short Form scores following right unilateral electroconvulsive therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electroconvulsive therapy treatment techniques associated with lesser cognitive side effects should be particularly considered for patients with lower baseline cognitive status or older age.
authors.affiliation: Black Dog Institute, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (Drs Martin, Gálvez, and Loo); Wesley Hospital, Sydney, Australia (Dr Loo); St George Hospital, South Eastern Sydney Health, Sydney, Australia (Dr Loo). donel.martin@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Donel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Black Dog Institute, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (Drs Martin, Gálvez, and Loo); Wesley Hospital, Sydney, Australia (Dr Loo); St George Hospital, South Eastern Sydney Health, Sydney, Australia (Dr Loo).
authors.forename: Verònica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gálvez
authors.affiliation: Black Dog Institute, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (Drs Martin, Gálvez, and Loo); Wesley Hospital, Sydney, Australia (Dr Loo); St George Hospital, South Eastern Sydney Health, Sydney, Australia (Dr Loo).
authors.forename: Colleen K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Loo
mesh_terms: D000648:Amnesia, Retrograde / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012306:Risk
keywords: Electroconvulsive therapy; memory; orientation time; verbal fluency