A trial to determine any difference between two and three times a week ECT in the rate of recovery from depression

Abstract

This study considers the difference in outcome between the two most commonly used frequencies of ECT administration, two and three times a week, in a standard clinical setting. Forty-one subjects who satisfied ICD-10 criteria for major depressive episode were randomly allocated to twice or three times a week ECT. HDRS (17-item) and MMSE scores were performed pre-treatment, during treatment and post-treatment. The mean number of ECTs in the two and three times a week groups were 5.90 and 6.85 and the mean length of treatment course (days) was 18.82 and 16.65, differences were statistically significant. There were dramatic improvements in HDRS scores in both groups but there were no statistically significant differences in HDRS scores between the groups during treatment. However, the group that received ECT two times a week showed significant lower HDRS scores in the week following the end of the ECT course. not differ between the groups. We concluded that ECT given three times a week provides no advantage over twice a week administration. Therefore, twice a week ECT is the preferred frequency. respectively. None of these statistically MMSE scores did