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Hippocampal Volume Is Associated With Physician-Reported Acute Cognitive Deficits After Electroconvulsive Therapy

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina

Douglas McQuoid, BS

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina

David C. Steffens, MD, MHS

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, steff001{at}mc.duke.edu

Predicting memory problems in older depressed patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is difficult. In this study, hippocampal volume and acute memory outcomes were examined in 15 patients following an index course of ECT. Smaller hippocampal volume was associated with poorer ECT-related memory outcomes. These results add to a growing literature on memory, ECT, and the hippocampus. Although the findings are significant, the sample size in the study is small, so future studies with more complex modeling of key variables that may influence memory are warranted.

Key Words: electroconvulsive therapy • elderly • depression • memory • cognition

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Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, Vol. 19, No. 1, 21-25 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0891988705284724


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Lekwauwa, R. Articles by Steffens, D. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lekwauwa, R. Articles by Steffens, D. C. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Memory MRI Scans Social Bookmarking                         What's this?