Department of NeuFydi Stockholm, Sweden
*Corresponding author:Ekedahl RG, NeuFydi Stockholm, Sweden
Submission: February 06, 2019;Published: February 21, 2019
Introduction: The aim for present study is to evaluate epileptic activity induced by stimulation during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and to compare this activity with post-stimulus electroencephalographic (EEG)-parameters.
Materials and methods: A total of 135 EEG recordings of ECT sessions analyzed from 23 patients treated for depression. The recording site in the parietal cortex (P4), and stimulation performed at right unilateral or bi-temporal locations. The epileptic activity in sedated patients (i.e., activity in the 5-48Hz range of a total observed frequencies range of 0.5-48Hz), and the frequency distribution during stimulation and commonly used parameters in the post-stimulus phase evaluated. For statistical comparison of calculated parameters, the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient used.
Results and discussion: The electrical shocks triggered EEG peaks in Delta to Gamma frequency bands and seemed dependent on stimulation frequency, with higher peak frequencies of responses for 70Hz than for 60 and 50Hz. A total of 15/23 patient had 90% or more of epileptic activity, while the remainder (8/23) had less than 90% epileptic activity in recorded sessions. Weak or no correlations observed when the proportion of epileptic activity and peak frequency during stimulation were compared with post-stimulus parameters. Even though no certain conclusions about the relationship of the antidepressant effect to the amount or the frequency of epileptic activity during triggered shocks from this study, a more effective stimulation been shown to give a better treatment effect of depressions.
Conclusion: EEG during stimulation may better evaluate the efficacy of stimulation than post-stimulus parameters and potentially improve ECT therapy by increasing the number of successful electroshock sessions in the treatment series.
Keywords: Electroconvulsive therapy; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy; Depressive disorder; Seizures; Electroshock; Brain; Humans; Anesthesia; Neurons
Abbreviations: EEG: Electroencephalography; ECT: Electroconvulsive Therapy; FFT: Fast Fourier Transform; AC: Alternating Current