TY - JOUR
T1 - Relief of expressed suicidal intent by ECT
T2 - A consortium for research in ECT study
AU - Kellner, Charles H.
AU - Fink, Max
AU - Knapp, Rebecca
AU - Petrides, Georgios
AU - Husain, Mustafa
AU - Rummans, Teresa
AU - Mueller, Martina
AU - Bernstein, Hilary
AU - Rasmussen, Keith
AU - O'Connor, Kevin
AU - Smith, Glenn
AU - Rush, A. John
AU - Biggs, Melanie
AU - McClintock, Shawn
AU - Bailine, Samuel
AU - Malur, Chitra
PY - 2005/5
Y1 - 2005/5
N2 - Objective: This study assessed the incidence, severity, and course of expressed suicidal intent in depressed patients who were treated with ECT. The data are from the first phase of an ongoing, collaborative multicenter study, the overall aim of which was to compare continuation ECT with pharmacotherapy in the prevention of relapse after a successful course of ECT. Method: Suicidal intent, as expressed by patients during an interview, was scored at baseline and before each ECT session with item 3 on the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale in 444 patients with unipolar depression. Results: One hundred thirty-one patients (29.5%) reported suicidal thoughts and acts (score of 3 or 4) at baseline. Scores decreased to O after 1 week (three ECT sessions) in 38.2% of the patients, after 2 weeks (six ECT sessions) in 61.1%, and in 80.9% at the end of the course of treatment. Conclusions: Expressed suicidal intent in depressed patients was rapidly relieved with ECT. Evidence-based treatment algorithms for major depressive mood disorders should include dichotomization according to suicide risk, as assessed by interview. For patients at risk, ECT should be considered earlier than at its conventional "last resort" position.
AB - Objective: This study assessed the incidence, severity, and course of expressed suicidal intent in depressed patients who were treated with ECT. The data are from the first phase of an ongoing, collaborative multicenter study, the overall aim of which was to compare continuation ECT with pharmacotherapy in the prevention of relapse after a successful course of ECT. Method: Suicidal intent, as expressed by patients during an interview, was scored at baseline and before each ECT session with item 3 on the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale in 444 patients with unipolar depression. Results: One hundred thirty-one patients (29.5%) reported suicidal thoughts and acts (score of 3 or 4) at baseline. Scores decreased to O after 1 week (three ECT sessions) in 38.2% of the patients, after 2 weeks (six ECT sessions) in 61.1%, and in 80.9% at the end of the course of treatment. Conclusions: Expressed suicidal intent in depressed patients was rapidly relieved with ECT. Evidence-based treatment algorithms for major depressive mood disorders should include dichotomization according to suicide risk, as assessed by interview. For patients at risk, ECT should be considered earlier than at its conventional "last resort" position.
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U2 - 10.1176/appi.ajp.162.5.977
DO - 10.1176/appi.ajp.162.5.977
M3 - Article
C2 - 15863801
AN - SCOPUS:21044440702
SN - 0002-953X
VL - 162
SP - 977
EP - 982
JO - American Journal of Psychiatry
JF - American Journal of Psychiatry
IS - 5
ER -