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Initial seizure threshold in bilateral electroconvulsive therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Sheena R. Dykes  and
Allan I. F. Scott
Sheena R. Dykes
Affiliation:
Andrew Duncan Clinic, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF
Allan I. F. Scott*
Affiliation:
Andrew Duncan Clinic, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

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The extent to which electrical dose exceeds the seizure threshold is an important determinant of the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) but seizure thresholds have not before been evaluated using an ECT machine made in the UK. In this study seizure threshold was empirically titrated at the outset of bilateral ECT given to 100 consecutive depressed patients treated with an Ectron Series 5A ECT machine. No patient received anti-epileptic drugs. Men and women under 30 years of age (n=14) had low thresholds and men of 60 years or more (n=3) had high thresholds. Seizure thresholds varied at least threefold among other groups, suggesting that empirical titration may be desirable for most patients treated by bilateral ECT.

Type
Original Papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 22 , Issue 5 , May 1998 , pp. 298 - 299
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

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