MAINTENANCE ECT IN INTRACTABLE MANIC-DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS

Twenty-two patients suffering from intractable recurrent unipolar or b ipolar mood disorders were enrolled in a maintenance-ECT protocol (ECT -M) for more than 18 months, with a treatment at approximately monthly intervals. Eleven have continued treatment for >2 years. Whereas 44% of the year had been spent in the hospital with at least three episode s a year prior to ECT-M, only 7% of the year was spent in the hospital during ECT-M with only one relapse every 16 months requiring admissio n (p < 0.001). Forty-five percent of the patients were in full remissi on and 27% in partial remission according to DSM-III-R criteria. ECT-M responsiveness of rapid-cyclers and delusional depressed patients usu ally drug refractory has been very encouraging with full or partial re mission for 100% of rapid-cyclers and 80% of delusional depressed pati ents.