title: Baseline cognitive function does not predict the treatment outcome of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in late-life depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No prior study has investigated whether impairment of specific cognitive functions at baseline may predict the short-term treatment outcome of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in elderly non-demented patients with major depression (MD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This longitudinal cohort study included 65 elderly patients with unipolar or bipolar MD, aged 60-85 years, treated with formula-based ECT. Treatment outcome was assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD17). Cognitive function at baseline was assessed using nine neuropsychological tests or subtests measuring information processing speed, verbal learning and memory, and aspects of executive function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A poorer performance on the word reading task of the Color Word Interference Test rendered higher odds of achieving remission during the ECT course (p=0.021). Remission was defined as an HRSD17 score of 7 or less. There were no other significant associations between the treatment outcome of ECT and cognitive performance parameters assessed at baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The limited number of subjects may have reduced the generalizability of the findings. Multiple statistical tests increase the risk for making a type I error.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  How well patients perform on neuropsychological tests at baseline is most likely not a predictor of, or otherwise not significantly associated with the treatment outcome of formula-based ECT in elderly patients with MD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Pastor Fangens vei 18, 0854 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: tormagne.bjolseth@diakonsyk.no.
authors.forename: Tor Magne
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Bjølseth
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Aging and Health, Vestfold Health Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Engedal
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Campus Ahus, University of Oslo, Norway; HØKH, Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Jūratė Šaltytė
authors.initials: JŠ
authors.lastname: Benth
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Pastor Fangens vei 18, 0854 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Gro Strømnes
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Dybedal
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Pastor Fangens vei 18, 0854 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Torfinn Lødøen
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Gaarden
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development in Mental Health, Akershus University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tanum
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014706:Verbal Learning
keywords: Baseline cognitive function; Electroconvulsive therapy; Major depression; Old age; Treatment outcome predictors