Clinical and biological predictors of response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): a review.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), developed in the 30's by Bini and Cerletti, remains a key element of the therapeutic armamentarium in psychiatry, particularly for severe and life-threatening psychiatric symptoms. However, despite its well-established clinical efficacy, the prescription of ECT has declined constantly over the years due to concerns over its safety (cognitive side effects) and an increasingly negative public perception. As for other treatments in the field of psychiatry, ECT is well suited to a personalized approach that would increment its efficacy, as well as reducing the impact of side effects.

Effectiveness of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.

Objectives: : To evaluate the effectiveness of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (m-ECT) in rapid-cycling (RC) bipolar disorder (BPD) patients.

Methods: : A population sample of 14 patients with BPD (type I or II) and an RC course were treated with m-ECT. Patients had not responded to previous treatments.