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Krarup M, Kellner CH, Østergaard SD. Clinical and Legal Differences in the Use of Involuntary Electroconvulsive Therapy for Life-Threatening Illness Across European Countries. J ECT 2024; 40:105-110. [PMID: 38194602 DOI: 10.1097/yct.0000000000000984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be life-saving in situations where patients are at risk of dying from severe manifestations of psychiatric illness. In some of these cases, patients are unwilling/unable to consent to ECT, and involuntary ECT is required. Such use of involuntary ECT varies substantially across European countries for unclear reasons. The aim of this study was to examine clinical and legal differences in this use of involuntary ECT across European countries. METHODS A questionnaire based on a case vignette (a 55-year-old female inpatient with psychotic depression at imminent risk of dying from metabolic derangement because of refusal to eat and drink) was sent to an ECT practitioner in each of 31 European countries. RESULTS We received responses from ECT practitioners in 18 countries. In 7 of these countries, involuntary ECT could be carried out without approval from others and/or involvement of the court system in the case described in the vignette. Practitioners in the remaining 11 countries responded that they either could not carry out involuntary ECT or would have to meet certain requirements before initiating involuntary ECT (e.g., approval from medical/ethics committee and second opinion from an independent psychiatrist). Notably, the rules regarding involuntary ECT differed for adults and minors (more restrictive for the latter) in 6 of the 18 countries. CONCLUSIONS In many European countries, legislation precludes or delays the use of involuntary ECT. Harmonization of the legislation on involuntary ECT across European countries to allow for better access to this potentially life-saving treatment seems warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Krarup
- From the Horsens Regional Psychiatric Hospital, Horsens, Denmark
| | - Charles H Kellner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
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Takamiya A, Kishimoto T, Mimura M. What Can We Tell About the Effect of Electroconvulsive Therapy on the Human Hippocampus? Clin EEG Neurosci 2023; 54:584-593. [PMID: 34547937 DOI: 10.1177/15500594211044066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective antidepressant treatment, although its mechanisms of action remain unclear. Since 2010, several structural magnetic resonance imaging studies based on a neuroplastic hypothesis have consistently reported increases in the hippocampal volume following ECT. Moreover, volume increases in the human dentate gyrus, where neurogenesis occurs, have also been reported. These results are in line with the preclinical findings of ECT-induced neuroplastic changes, including neurogenesis, gliogenesis, synaptogenesis, and angiogenesis, in rodents and nonhuman primates. Despite this robust evidence of an effect of ECT on hippocampal plasticity, the clinical relevance of these human hippocampal changes continues to be questioned. This narrative review summarizes recent findings regarding ECT-induced hippocampal volume changes. Furthermore, this review also discusses methodological considerations and future directions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Takamiya
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taishiro Kishimoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaru Mimura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Hauge C, Rohde C, Østergaard SD. Treatment of postpartum psychotic- or mood disorder requiring admission: A nationwide study from Denmark. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2023. [PMID: 37339779 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postpartum psychotic- or mood disorders are psychiatric emergencies associated with risk of suicide and infanticide. Except from case reports, there are only few descriptions of its treatment. Therefore, we aimed to describe the treatment of women admitted with postpartum psychotic- or mood disorder in Denmark with emphasis on the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). METHODS We conducted a register-based cohort study of all women with incident postpartum psychotic- or mood disorder (no prior diagnoses of psychotic- or mood disorder or treatment with ECT) requiring admission in the period from 2011 to 2018. For these patients, we described the treatment and the 6-month readmission risk. RESULTS We identified 91 women with postpartum psychotic- or mood disorder with a median admission length of 27 days (interquartile range: 10-45). Of those, 19% received ECT with a median time from admission to first ECT of 10 days (interquartile range: 5-16). The median number of ECT sessions was eight (interquartile range: 7-12). In the 6 months following discharge, 90% of the women received some form of psychopharmacological treatment (62% antipsychotics, 56% antidepressants, 36% anxiolytics/sedatives, 19% lithium, and 9% mood stabilizing antiepileptics), and 31% were readmitted. CONCLUSION Psychiatric admission for incident postpartum psychotic- or mood disorder is rare in Denmark. Among those admitted, ECT and psychopharmacological treatment is commonly used. The 6-month readmission risk is high, warranting close follow-up. The fact that there is no international consensus on the optimal treatment of postpartum psychotic- or mood disorder is problematic and calls for action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Hauge
- Regional Psychiatry Midt, Viborg, Denmark
- Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital-Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Christopher Rohde
- Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital-Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Søren D Østergaard
- Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital-Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Salagre E, Rohde C, Vieta E, Østergaard SD. Electroconvulsive therapy following incident bipolar disorder: When, how, and for whom? Bipolar Disord 2022; 24:817-825. [PMID: 36064283 PMCID: PMC10087321 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.13254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) remains poorly described. Based on data from Danish registries with complete nationwide coverage, this study of patients with incident BD aimed to describe when, how, and for whom ECT is used in the context of BD. METHODS We identified patients receiving their first diagnosis of BD in the period from 2008 to 2018, who subsequently received ECT. Descriptive statistics were used to clarify when, how, and for whom ECT is used. RESULTS We identified 1338 patients with incident BD who subsequently received ECT. The median age at the first ECT session was 50.6 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 26.4), and 62% of those treated with ECT were female. The median time from the diagnosis of BD to the first ECT treatment was 0.6 years (IQR: 2.6), and 58% of the patients receiving ECT had the first treatment within the first year after being diagnosed with BD. The most common indication for the first ECT treatment was depression (mainly non-psychotic depression), followed by mania (mainly psychotic mania). The first ECT session was typically provided to inpatients (97%), upon patient consent (98%) and with bilateral electrode placement (60%). CONCLUSIONS A substantial proportion of the patients with incident BD who receive ECT require this treatment within the first year after the diagnosis. The most common indication for ECT is depression followed by (psychotic) mania. Inpatient voluntary ECT using bilateral electrode placement is the most common form of administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estela Salagre
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital-Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Christopher Rohde
- Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital-Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Eduard Vieta
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Søren D Østergaard
- Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital-Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Pedersen MI, Salagre E, Kellner CH, Rohde C, Østergaard SD. The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) en bloc in Denmark: a nationwide register-based study. Nord J Psychiatry 2022:1-7. [PMID: 36344233 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2022.2142279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) en bloc is defined as ECT administered on 2-3 consecutive days. In Denmark, ECT en bloc is recommended for severe conditions such as catatonia, treatment-resistant mania/psychosis, or imminent risk of suicide. To our knowledge, there are no recent reports on the use of ECT en bloc in clinical practice. Here, we provide such a report. METHODS We characterized the use of ECT en bloc in the period from 2006-2019 based on data from Danish national registers. Furthermore, we compared mortality rates between patients receiving ECT en bloc and patients receiving standard regimen ECT (not en bloc). RESULTS We identified 2173 patients who received a total of 2734 ECT en bloc treatment courses in Denmark in the period from 2006 to 2019 (6% of the total number of ECT treatment courses). The use of ECT en bloc was stable over the study period (range: 138-196 patients per year). The most common treatment indications were unipolar depression (41%), psychotic disorder (23%), and bipolar disorder (20%). The vast majority (90%) received ECT en bloc voluntarily. The 1-year mortality rate ratio for ECT en bloc compared to standard regimen ECT was 1.42 (95%CI: 1.03-1.95). CONCLUSION The use of ECT en bloc in Denmark is stable both in terms of the number of patients treated and treatment indications. In keeping with ECT en bloc being used for severe conditions, those receiving this treatment have a higher mortality rate compared to those receiving standard ECT, warranting careful monitoring during follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie I Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Estela Salagre
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Charles H Kellner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Christopher Rohde
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Søren D Østergaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
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The PSYchiatric clinical outcome prediction (PSYCOP) cohort: leveraging the potential of electronic health records in the treatment of mental disorders. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021; 33:323-330. [PMID: 34369330 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2021.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The quality of life and lifespan are greatly reduced among individuals with mental illness. To improve prognosis, the nascent field of precision psychiatry aims to provide personalised predictions for the course of illness and response to treatment. Unfortunately, the results of precision psychiatry studies are rarely externally validated, almost never implemented in clinical practice, and tend to focus on a few selected outcomes. To overcome these challenges, we have established the PSYchiatric Clinical Outcome Prediction (PSYCOP) cohort, which will form the basis for extensive studies in the upcoming years. METHODS PSYCOP is a retrospective cohort study that includes all patients with at least one contact with the psychiatric services of the Central Denmark Region in the period from January 1, 2011, to October 28, 2020 (n = 119 291). All data from the electronic health records (EHR) are included, spanning diagnoses, information on treatments, clinical notes, discharge summaries, laboratory tests, etc. Based on these data, machine learning methods will be used to make prediction models for a range of clinical outcomes, such as diagnostic shifts, treatment response, medical comorbidity, and premature mortality, with an explicit focus on clinical feasibility and implementation. DISCUSSIONS We expect that studies based on the PSYCOP cohort will advance the field of precision psychiatry through the use of state-of-the-art machine learning methods on a large and representative data set. Implementation of prediction models in clinical psychiatry will likely improve treatment and, hopefully, increase the quality of life and lifespan of those with mental illness.
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