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Effects of ECT and Depression on Various Aspects of Memory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

C. D. Frith ,
Marilyn Stevens ,
Eve C. Johnstone ,
J. F. W. Deakin ,
P. Lawler  and
T. J. Crow
C. D. Frith
Affiliation:
South Cleveland Hospital, Middlesborough
Marilyn Stevens
Affiliation:
South Cleveland Hospital, Middlesborough
Eve C. Johnstone
Affiliation:
South Cleveland Hospital, Middlesborough
J. F. W. Deakin
Affiliation:
South Cleveland Hospital, Middlesborough
P. Lawler
Affiliation:
South Cleveland Hospital, Middlesborough
T. J. Crow
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Centre, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ
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Summary

Seventy severely depressed patients randomly assigned to receive 8 real or sham ECT were further subdivided on the basis of degree of recovery from depression afterwards. In comparison to a non-depressed control group the depressed patients were impaired on a wide range of tests of memory and concentration prior to treatment, but afterwards performance on most of the tests had improved. Real ECT induced impairments of concentration, short-term memory and learning, but significantly facilitated access to remote memories. At 6 month follow-up all differences between real and sham ECT groups had disappeared. On the majority of tests the previously depressed patients now performed at the same level as the control group. There was some evidence that a subgroup of treatment-resistant patients (poor outcome after real ECT) were significantly more likely to complain of memory problems 6 months later.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 142 , Issue 6 , June 1983 , pp. 610 - 617
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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