Seizure response monitoring during electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is used to treat several mental illnesses. Seizure duration is used to determine if the administered stimulus was adequate. Duration is estimated by Electroencephalogram (EEG) interpretation and/or observing motor response. Neither method is universally accepted, nor considered the gold standard; hence both are employed. This study investigated the relationship between the methods. The hypothesis tested was that they would have a strong positive correlation. Previous research suggested that the two methods didn’t result in the same estimate. A case series was carried out using recorded estimates prospectively obtained from 102 ECT procedures on adult Psychiatric inpatients. A strong, consistent, predictable relationship between the methods was not identified. However; using 15 seconds as the minimum for an adequate seizure response, there was agreement in 77% of the cases. In conclusion, this research has demonstrated that while the two methods differ, similar clinical results can be obtained by applying a limiter to both measures.