Biomaterial Database

Subjective side effects during electroconvulsive therapy. 1995

D P Devanand, and L Fitzsimons, and J Prudic, and H A Sackeim

New York State Psychiatric Institute, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, USA.

In 92 depressed patients who were randomized to unilateral or bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at either low dosage (just above seizure threshold) or high dosage (2.5 times the seizure threshold), subjective side effects were assessed with the Columbia ECT Subjective Side Effects Schedule. A research nurse administered the instrument 4 h after each treatment during the ECT course. In 41 patients, the instrument was also administered before the ECT course. Headache, disorientation, and memory complaints were the most common subjective side effects during the ECT course. Somatic side effects did not change from early to late in the ECT course, and were not influenced by ECT electrode placement or dosage. Most individual somatic side effects, including nausea, tiredness, and muscle aches/pains did not change from pre-ECT to during the ECT course, and may have been a function of the persistent somatic symptoms of depression. Cognitive complaints increased from pre-ECT to during the ECT course, but there was no overall change from pre-ECT to immediately after the ECT course. Cognitive complaints were greater with bilateral compared with unilateral ECT, with no significant effect of electrical dosage. During the ECT course, subjective mood improved and psychomotor agitation decreased, particularly in clinical responders. These findings suggest that most putative somatic side effects are related to the depressive state rather than being induced by ECT. The observed changes reinforce the need to evaluate both subjective and objective side effects during ECT.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008569	Memory Disorders	Disturbances in registering an impression, in the retention of an acquired impression, or in the recall of an impression. Memory impairments are associated with DEMENTIA; CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA; ENCEPHALITIS; ALCOHOLISM (see also ALCOHOL AMNESTIC DISORDER); SCHIZOPHRENIA; and other conditions.	Memory Loss,Age-Related Memory Disorders,Memory Deficits,Memory Disorder, Semantic,Memory Disorder, Spatial,Memory Disorders, Age-Related,Retention Disorders, Cognitive,Semantic Memory Disorder,Spatial Memory Disorder,Age Related Memory Disorders,Age-Related Memory Disorder,Cognitive Retention Disorder,Cognitive Retention Disorders,Deficit, Memory,Deficits, Memory,Memory Deficit,Memory Disorder,Memory Disorder, Age-Related,Memory Disorders, Age Related,Memory Disorders, Semantic,Memory Disorders, Spatial,Memory Losses,Retention Disorder, Cognitive,Semantic Memory Disorders,Spatial Memory Disorders
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011595	Psychomotor Agitation	A feeling of restlessness associated with increased motor activity. This may occur as a manifestation of nervous system drug toxicity or other conditions.	Agitation, Psychomotor,Akathisia,Excitement, Psychomotor,Restlessness,Psychomotor Hyperactivity,Psychomotor Restlessness,Hyperactivity, Psychomotor,Psychomotor Excitement,Restlessness, Psychomotor
D003071	Cognition	Intellectual or mental process whereby an organism obtains knowledge.	Cognitive Function,Cognitions,Cognitive Functions,Function, Cognitive,Functions, Cognitive
D003866	Depressive Disorder	An affective disorder manifested by either a dysphoric mood or loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The mood disturbance is prominent and relatively persistent.	Depression, Endogenous,Depression, Neurotic,Depression, Unipolar,Depressive Syndrome,Melancholia,Neurosis, Depressive,Unipolar Depression,Depressions, Endogenous,Depressions, Neurotic,Depressions, Unipolar,Depressive Disorders,Depressive Neuroses,Depressive Neurosis,Depressive Syndromes,Disorder, Depressive,Disorders, Depressive,Endogenous Depression,Endogenous Depressions,Melancholias,Neuroses, Depressive,Neurotic Depression,Neurotic Depressions,Syndrome, Depressive,Syndromes, Depressive,Unipolar Depressions
D004311	Double-Blind Method	A method of studying a drug or procedure in which both the subjects and investigators are kept unaware of who is actually getting which specific treatment.	Double-Masked Study,Double-Blind Study,Double-Masked Method,Double Blind Method,Double Blind Study,Double Masked Method,Double Masked Study,Double-Blind Methods,Double-Blind Studies,Double-Masked Methods,Double-Masked Studies,Method, Double-Blind,Method, Double-Masked,Methods, Double-Blind,Methods, Double-Masked,Studies, Double-Blind,Studies, Double-Masked,Study, Double-Blind,Study, Double-Masked
D004565	Electroconvulsive Therapy	Electrically induced CONVULSIONS primarily used in the treatment of severe AFFECTIVE DISORDERS and SCHIZOPHRENIA.	Convulsive Therapy, Electric,ECT (Psychotherapy),Electroshock Therapy,Shock Therapy, Electric,Convulsive Therapies, Electric,Electric Convulsive Therapies,Electric Convulsive Therapy,Electric Shock Therapies,Electric Shock Therapy,Electroconvulsive Therapies,Electroshock Therapies,Shock Therapies, Electric,Therapies, Electric Convulsive,Therapies, Electric Shock,Therapies, Electroconvulsive,Therapies, Electroshock,Therapy, Electric Convulsive,Therapy, Electric Shock,Therapy, Electroconvulsive,Therapy, Electroshock
D005260	Female		Females
D006261	Headache	The symptom of PAIN in the cranial region. It may be an isolated benign occurrence or manifestation of a wide variety of HEADACHE DISORDERS.	Cephalgia,Hemicrania,Bilateral Headache,Cephalalgia,Cephalodynia,Cranial Pain,Generalized Headache,Head Pain,Ocular Headache,Orthostatic Headache,Periorbital Headache,Retro-Ocular Headache,Sharp Headache,Throbbing Headache,Unilateral Headache,Vertex Headache,Bilateral Headaches,Cephalalgias,Cephalgias,Cephalodynias,Cranial Pains,Generalized Headaches,Head Pains,Headache, Bilateral,Headache, Generalized,Headache, Ocular,Headache, Orthostatic,Headache, Periorbital,Headache, Retro-Ocular,Headache, Sharp,Headache, Throbbing,Headache, Unilateral,Headache, Vertex,Headaches,Headaches, Bilateral,Headaches, Generalized,Headaches, Ocular,Headaches, Orthostatic,Headaches, Periorbital,Headaches, Retro-Ocular,Headaches, Sharp,Headaches, Throbbing,Headaches, Unilateral,Headaches, Vertex,Ocular Headaches,Orthostatic Headaches,Pain, Cranial,Pain, Head,Pains, Cranial,Pains, Head,Periorbital Headaches,Retro Ocular Headache,Retro-Ocular Headaches,Sharp Headaches,Throbbing Headaches,Unilateral Headaches,Vertex Headaches