J. Snowdon et al., CONTINUOUS SCREAMING CONTROLLED BY ELECTROCONVULSIVE-THERAPY - A CASE-STUDY, International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 9(11), 1994, pp. 929-932
Patients in long-term care who scream continuously or continually caus
e considerable distress to other residents and staff. It is suggested
that many such patients (whether demented or not) are depressed. Howev
er, antidepressants, tranquillizers and behavioural management techniq
ues often fail to control the screaming. This article documents the ef
fectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the case of a 69-yea
r-old woman with mild mental retardation, who had a past history and c
urrent evidence of depressive symptoms and who screamed for increasing
ly prolonged periods during the 4 months prior to ECT. It is recommend
ed that use of ECT be considered in cases of elderly people who scream
incessantly, especially if they might be depressed.