Introduction: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an important treatment
modality in psychiatry. Despite the efficacy of ECT, its use worldwide is
less than expected. Although limited access and stigma are the main
factors contributing to this controversy, cognitive side effects are an
important issue for clinicians who administer ECT. The present study
aims to provide an assessment of the frequency of neuropsychiatric
adverse effects associated with ECT.
Method: A retrospective evaluation of 2935 files of patients who
underwent ECT between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017
was performed. Specific data obtained from patient records, such as
sociodemographic characteristics, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition diagnoses, scale scores, medical
evaluations, length of hospital stay, previous ECT history and indications
for ECT administration, stimulus parameters, seizure duration, and
neuropsychiatric adverse effects were evaluated.
Results: A significant proportion of patients experienced no
neuropsychiatric adverse effects across multiple sessions, with the
proportion increasing steadily from 70.7% after one session to 97.3%
after ten sessions. Additionally, the group that showed neuropsychiatric
adverse effects underwent a significantly higher number of previous ECT
sessions (p<0.001), longer duration of hospitalization after the last ECT
session (p<0.001), and overall duration of hospitalization (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The fact that the majority of patients in this study did not
experience any neuropsychiatric adverse effects during more than
one ECT session and that the frequency of adverse effects decreased
as ECT sessions progressed may contribute clinicians to approach ECT
application more confidently.
Keywords: Adverse effect, electroconvulsive therapy, neuropsychiatry,
cognitive