Common Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy for Chinese Adolescent Psychiatric Patients.

Purpose: Little is known about the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for adolescent psychiatric patients in China. This study examined the frequency of ECT and the demographic and clinical correlates of adolescent psychiatric patients hospitalized in a tertiary psychiatric hospital in China.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 954 inpatients aged between 13 and 17 years treated over a period of 8 years (2007-2013).

Minimum Effective Doses of Succinylcholine and Rocuronium During Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Prospective, Randomized, Crossover Trial.

Background: Neuromuscular blockade is required to control excessive muscle contractions during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In a crossover, assessor-blinded, prospective randomized study, we studied the minimum effective dose (MED) of succinylcholine and rocuronium for ECT. The MED was the lowest dose to provide a predefined qualitative measure of acceptable control of muscle strength during induced convulsions.

Rapid improvement of depression and psychotic symptoms in Huntington's disease: a retrospective chart review of seven patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy.

Many patients with Huntington's disease (HD) develop psychiatric symptoms such as depression and psychosis. For severe symptoms, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be a valuable treatment. In this case series, we identified seven patients with HD who received ECT at Massachusetts General Hospital in the past 20 years.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the impact of galantamine on anterograde memory impairment during electroconvulsive therapy.

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) continues to be an effective treatment option for patients who fail to respond to pharmacological interventions, are unable to tolerate medications, and show a suboptimal response to behavioral and psychotherapeutic treatments. However, risks for cognitive impairment may contribute to some patients' refusal of ECT.

Methods: The present study examined galantamine as a pharmacological intervention to reduce cognitive adverse effects from ECT.

Depression and costs of health care.

Background: In spite of its global importance, the interaction between depression and chronic comorbid diseases remains incompletely understood with regard to prevalence, severity of disease, and potential causative factors mediating this interaction.

Objective: The authors sought to compare overall medical costs in nondepressed and depressed individuals.

Method: Insurance claims for 618,780 patients were examined for total annual non-mental health cost of care in 11 chronic diseases.

Encephalitis and catatonia treated with ECT.

Objective: To describe 2 cases of encephalitis with neuropsychiatric symptoms including catatonia, compounded by neuroleptic use for delirious agitation culminating in malignant catatonia responsive to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms including catatonia can be manifestations of limbic encephalitis and encephalitides of unidentified etiology, including encephalitis lethargica. Catatonic features are often difficult to appraise in this context.

Atropine in Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Nineteen patients with major depression were alternately given intravenous atropine or saline immediately prior to anesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Atropine increased the heart rate, reduced the number of dropped beats, and reduced the number of premature atrial beats. These features may be advantageous in patients with cardiac hypodynamic states presenting for ECT, that is, with bradycardia, bradyarrhythmia, or hypotension.