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Comparison of Unilateral and Bilateral ECT: Evidence for Selective Memory Impairment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Delee Fromm-Auch
Delee Fromm-Auch*
Affiliation:
Alberta Hospital, Box 307, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 2J7, Canada
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Summary

Review of studies from the past 16 years employing quantitative measurement of memory functions before and after ECT revealed the following trends: impairment of non-verbal memory functions after less than five unilateral non-dominant ECTs; improvement of non-verbal memory functions after five or more unilateral non-dominant ECTs; no change or improvement of verbal memory functions with unilateral non-dominant ECT; consistent impairment of verbal functions with unilateral dominant ECT, and impairment of both verbal and nonverbal functions with bilateral ECT. The relative lack of impairment in memory functions with unilateral non-dominant ECT is consistent with the theory of asymmetrical hemispheric disorganization in affective disorders, and supports the choice of unilateral non-dominant ECT over bilateral or unilateral dominant ECT in the treatment of depression.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 141 , Issue 6 , December 1982 , pp. 608 - 613
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1982 

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