ECT use in unipolar and bipolar depression.
Academic Article
Overview
abstract
BACKGROUND: Few studies have compared response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in depressed patients with unipolar and bipolar disorder. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of inpatients with unipolar or bipolar depression who received open treatment with right unilateral ECT. We compared the number of treatments, demographics, and change in Global Assessment of Functioning scores and length of hospital stay in both groups. RESULTS: Whereas changes in Global Assessment of Functioning scores and length of stay overlapped, the number of treatments in patients with bipolar disorder (mean ± SD, 7.5 ± 1.6) was lower than that in patients with unipolar disorder (mean ± SD, 10.2 ± 1.9). CONCLUSION: Fewer ECT treatments may be required to achieve similar benefit in patients with bipolar disorder compared to patients with unipolar disorder.