Improvement in verbal memory performance in depressed in-patients after treatment with electroconvulsive therapy

• Verfasst von: Biedermann, Sarah Violetta [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Ende, Gabriele [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Sartorius, Alexander [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Improvement in verbal memory performance in depressed in-patients after treatment with electroconvulsive therapy
• Verf.angabe: S. V. Biedermann, J. M. Bumb, T. Demirakca, G. Ende, A. Sartorius
• E-Jahr: 2016
• Jahr: 23 September 2016
• Umfang: 8 S.
• Fussnoten: Gesehen am 26.02.2019
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica
• Ort Quelle: Oxford [u.a.] : Wiley-Blackwell, 1961
• Jahr Quelle: 2016
• Band/Heft Quelle: 134(2016), 6, Seite 461-468
• ISSN Quelle: 1600-0447
• DOI: doi:10.1111/acps.12652
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: California Verbal Learning Test
• Sach-SW: cognitive dysfunction
• Sach-SW: declarative memory
• Sach-SW: electroconvulsive therapy
• Sach-SW: major depression
• K10plus-PPN: 1588143023

Abstract

Objective Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective and well-tolerated therapy for severe and treatment-resistant depression. Cognitive side-effects are still feared by some patients and clinicians. Importantly, cognitive impairments are among the most disabling symptoms of depression itself. Methods Patients suffering from a severe episode of depression were treated with either ECT or treatment as usual (TAU) in an in-patient setting. Matched healthy participants served as controls (HC). Verbal memory was tested with the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) before the specific treatment started (ECT = 15, TAU = 16, HC = 31) and 2 months after the last ECT session or 2 months after discharge respectively. Results Before the specific treatment started, depressed patients performed substantially worse compared with HC in total, short- and long-delay recall in the CVLT, while the ECT group showed the worst performance. More severely depressed patients showed worse performances in these measures. Intriguingly, verbal memory showed a significant improvement in ECT-treated patients, but not in the other groups. No differences between the groups were found at follow-up. Conclusion Contrary to the widely feared assumption that ECT has long-term impact on memory functions, we found evidence that ECT is superior to TAU in improving verbal memory in depressed patients.