Cognitive functioning in patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy

Figures & data

Table 1 Correlation between cognitive performance and psychopathology from T1 to T4

BPRS	MoCA
	T1	T2	T3	T4
T1
r	−0.549**	−0.471**	−0.215	−0.147
P	0.000	0.002	0.177	0.353
T2
r	−0.525**	−0.532**	−0.259	−0.156
P	0.000	0.000	0.102	0.325
T3
r	−0.204	−0.318*	0.022	−0.117
P	0.195	0.040	0.890	0.462
T4
r	0.085	0.046	−0.032	−0.053
P	0.591	0.774	0.843	0.738

Notes:

* Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level.

** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level. T1, 1 day before the beginning of treatment; T2, 1 day before the fourth session; T3, 1 day after the last session; T4, after 6 weeks.

Abbreviations: BPRS, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Table 2 Cognitive performance in MCCB – comparison of patients and controls

Cognitive domain	Patients T3	Patients T4	∆T3–T4	Significant	Controls Tc1	Controls Tc2	ΔTc1–Tc2
Speed of information processing	31.4±13.5	41.1±13.4	9.7	*	54.6±9.9	57.6±10.6	3
Vigilance	35.3±13.4	42.7±13.5	7.4	*	46.3±8.7	48.5±9.2	2.2
Working memory	37.3±13	42.3±11.9	5		50.5±7	51.8±9.1	1.3
Verbal memory and learning	38±8.1	41.3±11	3.3		50.6±9	54.5±13	3.9
Visual memory and learning	43.5±13.7	52.7±11.9	9.2	*	51.6±10.2	54.4±8.1	2.8
Problem solving (executive functioning)	41.7±9.4	45.1±8.8	3.4		52.2±9.8	54.3±9	2.1

Notes: Data are presented as mean±SD. Cognitive performance of both groups is expressed in normative T-scores (mean=10; SD=10).

* We found a significant effect of group (clinical group vs control group) on the level of improvement of cognitive performance at T4, ie, the clinical group was improving significantly more than the control group. More details are described in the text. T3, 1 day after the last session; T4, after 6 weeks; Tc1, the first scheduled visit; Tc2, 6 weeks after the first visit.

Abbreviation: MCCB, MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery.

Figure 1 MATRICS performance of patients in the T3, T4, and control groups in Tc1 and Tc2 (within 6 weeks).

Note: T3, 1 day after the last session; T4, after 6 weeks; Tc1, the first scheduled visit; Tc2, 6 weeks after the first visit.

Table 3 Differences in the cognitive performance according to MCCB between the depression and psychosis groups

	Psychosis T3	Depression T3	t	P-value	Psychosis T4	Depression T4	t	P-value
Speed of processing	24.6±10.8	34.3±13.5	1.98	0.055	34.9±11.9	43.8±12.7	1.88	0.068
Vigilance	35.5±9.4	36.1±14	0.11	0.909	47.2±13.8	42.2±13.4	0.77	0.446
Working memory	30.6±8.9	40±12.5	2.09	0.043	38±10	44.2±10	1.64	0.109
Verbal memory and learning	35.3±4.7	39.5±8.4	1.41	0.166	36±6.9	43.2±11.6	1.76	0.087
Visual memory and learning	29.1±9.3	48.5±11.5	4.61	0.000*	41.8±8	56.8±10.3	4	0.000*
Problem solving (executive functioning)	36.7±11.6	44±7.9	2.19	0.035	42.3±10.5	46.4±8	1.24	0.222

Notes: Data are presented as mean±SD. T3, 1 day after the last session; T4, after 6 weeks.

* P≤0.005.

Abbreviation: MCCB, MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery.