Symptom predictors of response to electroconvulsive therapy in older patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been used for treatment-resistant depression. However, predictors of response to ECT have not been adequately studied using the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, especially in older patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Methods: This study included 18 Japanese patients who fulfilled the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition Text Revision criteria for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder with a current major depressive episode, and met the definition of treatment-resistant depression outlined by Thase and Rush, scoring ≥21 on the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale.

Predictors of response to electroconvulsive therapy obtained using the three-factor structure of the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale for treatment-resistant depressed patients.

Objective: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for refractory major depressive disorder (MDD). Although studies have examined different predictors of a positive response to ECT, predictors based on symptoms listed on a depression rating scale have not been studied.

Methods: This study included 24 Japanese patients who fulfilled the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition criteria for MDD or bipolar disorder with current major depressive episode.