title: Evaluation of cumulative cognitive deficits from electroconvulsive therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective acute treatment for severe depression, but widely held concerns about memory problems may limit its use.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To find out whether repeated or maintenance courses of ECT cause cumulative cognitive deterioration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of the results of 10 years of cognitive performance data collection from patients who have received ECT. The 199 patients had a total of 498 assessments, undertaken after a mean of 15.3 ECT sessions (range 0-186). A linear mixed-effect regression model was used, testing whether an increasing number of ECT sessions leads to deterioration in performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total number of previous ECT sessions had no effect on cognitive performance. The major factors affecting performance were age, followed by the severity of depression at the time of testing and the number of days since the last ECT session.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated courses of ECT do not lead to cumulative cognitive deficits. This message is reassuring for patients, carers and prescribers who are concerned about memory problems and confusion during ECT.
authors.affiliation: George G. Kirov, MRCPsych, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Laura Owen, MBBCh, Intensive Care Unit, Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport; Hazel Ballard, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Adele Leighton, MBBCh, Kara Hannigan, RGN, Danielle Llewellyn, BN, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff; Valentina Escott-Price, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Maria Atkins, MRCPsych, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff, UK kirov@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: George G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Kirov
authors.affiliation: George G. Kirov, MRCPsych, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Laura Owen, MBBCh, Intensive Care Unit, Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport; Hazel Ballard, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Adele Leighton, MBBCh, Kara Hannigan, RGN, Danielle Llewellyn, BN, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff; Valentina Escott-Price, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Maria Atkins, MRCPsych, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.affiliation: George G. Kirov, MRCPsych, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Laura Owen, MBBCh, Intensive Care Unit, Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport; Hazel Ballard, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Adele Leighton, MBBCh, Kara Hannigan, RGN, Danielle Llewellyn, BN, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff; Valentina Escott-Price, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Maria Atkins, MRCPsych, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Hazel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ballard
authors.affiliation: George G. Kirov, MRCPsych, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Laura Owen, MBBCh, Intensive Care Unit, Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport; Hazel Ballard, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Adele Leighton, MBBCh, Kara Hannigan, RGN, Danielle Llewellyn, BN, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff; Valentina Escott-Price, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Maria Atkins, MRCPsych, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leighton
authors.affiliation: George G. Kirov, MRCPsych, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Laura Owen, MBBCh, Intensive Care Unit, Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport; Hazel Ballard, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Adele Leighton, MBBCh, Kara Hannigan, RGN, Danielle Llewellyn, BN, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff; Valentina Escott-Price, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Maria Atkins, MRCPsych, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hannigan
authors.affiliation: George G. Kirov, MRCPsych, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Laura Owen, MBBCh, Intensive Care Unit, Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport; Hazel Ballard, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Adele Leighton, MBBCh, Kara Hannigan, RGN, Danielle Llewellyn, BN, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff; Valentina Escott-Price, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Maria Atkins, MRCPsych, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Llewellyn
authors.affiliation: George G. Kirov, MRCPsych, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Laura Owen, MBBCh, Intensive Care Unit, Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport; Hazel Ballard, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Adele Leighton, MBBCh, Kara Hannigan, RGN, Danielle Llewellyn, BN, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff; Valentina Escott-Price, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Maria Atkins, MRCPsych, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Escott-Price
authors.affiliation: George G. Kirov, MRCPsych, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Laura Owen, MBBCh, Intensive Care Unit, Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport; Hazel Ballard, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Adele Leighton, MBBCh, Kara Hannigan, RGN, Danielle Llewellyn, BN, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff; Valentina Escott-Price, PhD, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff; Maria Atkins, MRCPsych, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult