Demographic and clinical predictors for the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract

Background and aims:

This study was a retprospective review on use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in a Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia. Aim of the study was to determine demographic and clinical predictors of ECT outcome.

Method:

The study subjects were 120 patients (59 male and 61 female) treated with bilateral ECT over the period 2000-2004. Data extracted from clinical records included demographic variables (age, sex, education and heredity of psychiatric illness) and clinical characteristics (diagnosis, duration of illness, episode duration, comorbid psychiatric disorders, presence of psychosis, previous hospitalizations, and ECT variables). As outcome measure was used Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale.

Results:

The significant sex difference was found concerning age and diagnosis. Female patients were much older (mean age=46.9 years, SD=14.3) compared to male patients (mean age=35.4 years, SD=14.1), with much longer duration of illness (mean=88.7 months, SD=95.8), compared to male patients (51.9 months, SD=58.1). After a clinical course of ECT, 52.5% of all patients were rated as "much", and 40% as "very much" improved on the CGI. Statistically significant predictors of remission were sex and the number of previous hospitalizations.

Conclusion:

Significant improvement after use of electroconvulsive therapy was associated with sex and the number of previous hospitalizations, but not with age or duration of illness or presence of psychosis.