J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1995; 7:31-34
Copyright © 1995 by American Neuropsychiatric Association

REGULAR ARTICLES

Improvement in depression-related cognitive dysfunction following ECT

A Stoudemire, CD Hill, R Morris and ST Dalton
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

Long-term cognitive changes were observed in 8 depressed patients whose pretreatment cognitive impairment (depressive dementia or pseudodementia) resolved after treatment with ECT. Improved performance on the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale was maintained throughout a 4-year follow-up period. Improvements on Memory and Initiation and Perseveration subscales were most consistent over time. These aspects of cognitive functioning may be the most susceptible to the effects of depression, and this may be a factor to consider in clinically evaluating older patients with both depression and cognitive impairment. The findings indicate that elderly patients with cognitive dysfunction secondary to depression may experience improvement in cognitive functioning that is stable over time with remission of the affective disorder.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. C.T.F. Alves, J. Rays, R. M.S. Telles, R. F. Junior, M. Wajngarten, B. W. Romano, C. Watanabe, and G. F. Busatto Effects of Antidepressant Treatment on Cognitive Performance in Elderly Subjects With Heart Failure and Comorbid Major Depression: An Exploratory Study Psychosomatics, February 1, 2007; 48(1): 22 - 30. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L V Kessing and P K Andersen Does the risk of developing dementia increase with the number of episodes in patients with depressive disorder and in patients with bipolar disorder? J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, December 1, 2004; 75(12): 1662 - 1666. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Cheong An Evidence-Based Approach to the Management of Agitation in the Geriatric Patient Focus, April 1, 2004; 2(2): 197 - 205. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Fann, J. M. Uomoto, and W. J. Katon Cognitive Improvement With Treatment of Depression Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Psychosomatics, February 1, 2001; 42(1): 48 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K. Yaffe, T. Blackwell, R. Gore, L. Sands, V. Reus, and W. S. Browner Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Decline in Nondemented Elderly Women: A Prospective Study Arch Gen Psychiatry, May 1, 1999; 56(5): 425 - 430. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Kant, C. E. Coffey, and A. M. Bogyi Safety and Efficacy of ECT in Patients With Head Injury: A Case Series J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, February 1, 1999; 11(1): 32 - 37. [Abstract] [Full Text]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 1995 American Neuropsychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us