Stimulus intensity determined by dose-titration versus age-based methods in electroconvulsive therapy in Thai patients

Figures & data

Table 1 Dose-titration schedule and parameter settings

Step	Right unilateral electrode placement					Bilateral electrode placement
	Pulse width (ms)	Frequency (Hz)	Duration (s)	Current (mA)	Charge (mC)	Pulse width (ms)	Frequency (Hz)	Duration (s)	Current (mA)	Charge (mC)
1	0.5	50	0.5	800	20	1	40	0.75	800	48
2	0.5	40	1	800	32	1	40	1.25	800	80
3	0.5	40	1.5	800	48	1	40	2	800	128
4	0.5	40	1.5	800	77	1	60	2	800	192
5	1	40	2	800	128	1	60	3	800	288
6	1	60	2	800	192	1	60	4.5	800	432
7	1	60	3	800	288	1	60	6	800	576
8	1	60	4.5	800	432
9	1	60	6	800	576

Table 2 Demographic characteristics

Characteristics	RUL group (n=32)	BL group (n=57)
Female
Age (years)	54.8±16 (58.8)	43.7±13.8 (44.4)
Body mass index	23.5±5.5 (23.2)	25.8±6.1 (25.2)
Diagnosis
Schizophrenia	1 (3.1%)	28 (49.1%)
Schizoaffective disorder	2 (6.3%)	8 (14.0%)
Bipolar disorder	7 (21.9%)	15 (26.3%)
Major depressive disorder	21 (65.6%)	2 (3.5%)
Other diagnosis	1 (3.1%)	4 (7.0%)
History of previous ECT	6 (18.8%)	17 (29.8%)
Concurrent medication
Benzodiazepine	4 (12.5%)	2 (3.5%)
Antipsychotic	25 (78.1%)	55 (96.5%)
Antidepressant	13 (40.6%)	5 (8.8%)
Anticonvulsant	1 (3.1%)	4 (7.0%)
Anticholinergic	0	12 (21.1%)
Anesthetic agents
Thiopental	30 (93.8%)	55 (96.5%)
Propofol	2 (6.2%)	2 (3.5%)

Note: Data are presented as the mean±SD (median) or n (%).

Abbreviations: BL, bilateral; ECT, electroconvulsive therapy; RUL, right unilateral.

Table 3 Stimulus intensity determined using the dose-titration and age-based methods

	Dose-titration method	Half-age method	Age method
RUL group (n=32)	227±92 (192) (115–576)	158±46 (169) (56–253)	315±92 (338) (112–505)
BL group (n=57)	221.7±119.9 (192) (80–576)	126±39.8 (128) (53–233)	252±79.7 (256) (106–466)

Note: Data are presented as the mean±SD (median), range of stimulus intensity (mC).

Abbreviations: BL, bilateral; RUL, right unilateral.

Figure 1 Comparison of the stimulus intensity determined using the dose-titration and age-based methods in the right unilateral group.

Figure 2 Comparison of the stimulus intensity determined using the dose-titration and age-based methods in the bilateral group.