TY - JOUR
T1 - Health-related quality of life following ECT in a large community sample
AU - McCall, W. Vaughn
AU - Prudic, Joan
AU - Olfson, Mark
AU - Sackeim, Harold
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by NIMH grants R01 MH59069, R01 MH35636, R01 MH61609, and R01 MH61564.
PY - 2006/2
Y1 - 2006/2
N2 - Background: While electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a potent antidepressant, little is known about its long-term effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods: Using a naturalistic, observational design, 283 depressed patients, who received ECT at 7 hospitals in the New York City area, were assessed for HRQOL with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form - 36 (SF-36) at baseline, several days after ECT, and 24 weeks later. Depression severity was assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and a neuropsychological battery was also administered. Results: Baseline SF-36 scores were very low, indicating poor HRQOL. These scores were improved at postECT and at the 24-week follow-up. Unexpectedly, the degree of retrograde amnesia for autobiographical information was associated with better HRQOL in the immediate postECT period, but not at 24-week follow-up. In contrast, improvement in global cognitive status was associated with superior HRQOL at the 24-week time point. Limitations: This study was limited by the lack of a non-ECT comparison group, and the naturalistic design of treatment. Conclusions: ECT is associated with improved HRQOL in the short- and long-term, with the enhancements largely explained by improvements in depressive symptoms. The acute cognitive effects of ECT may also influence HRQOL assessment, and evaluations removed in time from the treatment may have greater validity.
AB - Background: While electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a potent antidepressant, little is known about its long-term effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods: Using a naturalistic, observational design, 283 depressed patients, who received ECT at 7 hospitals in the New York City area, were assessed for HRQOL with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form - 36 (SF-36) at baseline, several days after ECT, and 24 weeks later. Depression severity was assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and a neuropsychological battery was also administered. Results: Baseline SF-36 scores were very low, indicating poor HRQOL. These scores were improved at postECT and at the 24-week follow-up. Unexpectedly, the degree of retrograde amnesia for autobiographical information was associated with better HRQOL in the immediate postECT period, but not at 24-week follow-up. In contrast, improvement in global cognitive status was associated with superior HRQOL at the 24-week time point. Limitations: This study was limited by the lack of a non-ECT comparison group, and the naturalistic design of treatment. Conclusions: ECT is associated with improved HRQOL in the short- and long-term, with the enhancements largely explained by improvements in depressive symptoms. The acute cognitive effects of ECT may also influence HRQOL assessment, and evaluations removed in time from the treatment may have greater validity.
KW - Depression
KW - Electroconvulsive therapy
KW - Health services
KW - Quality of life
KW - Relapse
KW - Remission
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2005.12.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2005.12.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 16412519
AN - SCOPUS:31844431854
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 90
SP - 269
EP - 274
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
IS - 2-3
ER -