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Quality of life and function after electroconvulsive therapy

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

Correspondence: W. Vaughn McCall, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1071, USA. Tel: 336 716 2911; fax: 336 716 3508; e-mail: vmccall{at}wfubmc.edu

Declaration of interest None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgement.

Background The National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the UK has recommended limiting the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), partly because of the inadequacy of research into the effects of ECT on quality of life and function.

Aims To examine the effects of ECT on function and quality of life, particularly as they relate to changes in mood and cognition in the month following this therapy.

Method We measured changes in quality of life, function, mood and cognition in a prospective sample of 77 depressed patients given ECT.

Results All quality of life and function outcomes were improved at the 2-week and 4-week marks after ECT. Improvement in quality of life was related to mood, whereas improvement in instrumental activities of daily living function was related to improvement in global cognition.

Conclusions Electroconvulsive therapyis associated with early improvement in function and quality of life. A restrictive attitude towards this therapy is not warranted on the basis of its effects on quality of life and function.

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				H. Robertson and R. Pryor Memory and cognitive effects of ECT: informing and assessing patients Advan. Psychiatr. Treat., May 1, 2006; 12(3): 228 - 237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Andre, W. V. McCall, and L. Andre Quality of life and ECT * Author's reply * Author's reply The British Journal of Psychiatry, March 1, 2005; 186(3): 264 - 265. [Full Text] [PDF]

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