International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 30(3), 2015, pp.265-273.
Publisher:
Wiley
... (Grand Rapids, MI, USA), with a diagnosis of dementia who were referred for ECT to treat agitation and/or aggression, were enrolled in the study. The Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory-Short Form, Neuropsychiatric Inventory–Nursing Home Version, Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, and the Clinical Global Impression Scale were administered at baseline, during, and after the ECT course.
Results: Regression analyses revealed a significant decrease from baseline to discharge on the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory and Neuropsychiatric Inventory. There was no statistically significant change in scores on the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. The Clinical Global Impression scores on average changed from a rating of 'markedly agitated/aggressive' at baseline to 'borderline agitated/aggressive' at discharge. Treatment with ECT was well tolerated by most participants; discontinuation of ECT occurred for two participants because of recurrence of agitation and for three participants because of adverse events.
Conclusions: Electroconvulsive therapy may be a safe treatment option to reduce symptoms of agitation and aggression in patients with dementia whose behaviours are refractory
(Edited publisher abstract)
Objective: This study examined the safety and efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment for behavioural disturbances in dementia. It was hypothesized that ECT would result in reduced agitated and aggressive behaviours between baseline and discharge.
Methods: Twenty-three participants admitted to McLean Hospital (Belmont, MA, USA) and Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services (Grand Rapids, MI, USA), with a diagnosis of dementia who were referred for ECT to treat agitation and/or aggression, were enrolled in the study. The Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory-Short Form, Neuropsychiatric Inventory–Nursing Home Version, Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, and the Clinical Global Impression Scale were administered at baseline, during, and after the ECT course.
Results: Regression analyses revealed a significant decrease from baseline to discharge on the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory and Neuropsychiatric Inventory. There was no statistically significant change in scores on the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. The Clinical Global Impression scores on average changed from a rating of 'markedly agitated/aggressive' at baseline to 'borderline agitated/aggressive' at discharge. Treatment with ECT was well tolerated by most participants; discontinuation of ECT occurred for two participants because of recurrence of agitation and for three participants because of adverse events.
Conclusions: Electroconvulsive therapy may be a safe treatment option to reduce symptoms of agitation and aggression in patients with dementia whose behaviours are refractory to medication management.
(Edited publisher abstract)