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Spontaneous length of depression and response to ECT

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

A. Kukopulos ,
D. Reginaldi ,
L. Tondo ,
A. Bernabei  and
B. Caliari
A. Kukopulos*
Affiliation:
From the Centro Lucio Bini per lo studio e la terapia delta depressione, Rome
D. Reginaldi
Affiliation:
From the Centro Lucio Bini per lo studio e la terapia delta depressione, Rome
L. Tondo
Affiliation:
From the Centro Lucio Bini per lo studio e la terapia delta depressione, Rome
A. Bernabei
Affiliation:
From the Centro Lucio Bini per lo studio e la terapia delta depressione, Rome
B. Caliari
Affiliation:
From the Centro Lucio Bini per lo studio e la terapia delta depressione, Rome
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr A. Kukopulos, 4 Via Crescenzio, 00193 Rome, Italy.
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Synopsis

Electro-convulsive treatment (ECT) was therapeutically ineffective in 27 (20 %) of 136 depressed patients. Failure to respond occurred in long-lasting depressions and in patients with a history of long-lasting depressions. In these cases the depression lasted at least 6 months. The hypothesis is proposed that ECT is effective only when given within 6 months of the spontaneous end of the depression. Clinical and nosological implications are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 7 , Issue 4 , November 1977 , pp. 625 - 629
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

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