Electroconvulsive therapy related autobiographical amnesia: a review and case report

Introduction: While short-term cognitive impairment following electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is well described and acknowledged, the relationship between ECT and persistent memory impairment, particularly of autobiographical memory, has been controversial. Methods: We describe the case of a 70-year...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cognitive neuropsychiatry 2021-03, Vol.26 (2), p.107-121
Main Authors: Lomas, Matthew, Rickard, Victoria, Milton, Fraser, Savage, Sharon, Weir, Andrew, Zeman, Adam
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Amnesia
Amnesia - etiology
Case reports
Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive Therapy - adverse effects
Executive function
Humans
Male
Memory
Memory Disorders - etiology
Memory, Episodic
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Summary:Introduction: While short-term cognitive impairment following electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is well described and acknowledged, the relationship between ECT and persistent memory impairment, particularly of autobiographical memory, has been controversial. Methods: We describe the case of a 70-year-old consultant neurophysiologist, AW, who developed prominent, selective autobiographical memory loss following two courses of ECT for treatment-resistant depression. Results: His performance on standard measures of IQ, semantic and episodic memory, executive function and mood was normal, while he performed significantly below controls on measures of episodic autobiographical memory. Conclusions: Explanations in terms of mood-related memory loss and somatoform disorder appear unlikely. We relate AW's autobiographical memory impairment, following his ECT, to reports of similar autobiographical memory impairment occurring in the context of epilepsy, and emphasise the importance of using sensitive approaches to AbM assessment.
ISSN:1354-6805
1464-0619
DOI:10.1080/13546805.2021.1871889