Depression and Hemispheric Functions: Changes Associated with Unilateral ECT

Nine depressed patients received ECT to the dominant (left) side along with nine matched depressed patients who received ECT to the non-dominant (right) side. Neuropsychological tests showed that the right hemispheric functions were more frequently abnormal as compared to left hemispheric (dominant)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of psychiatry 1978-06, Vol.132 (6), p.560-567
Main Authors: Kronfol, Ziad, Hamsher, K. Des, Digre, Kathleen, Waziri, Rafiq
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Depression - psychology
Depression - therapy
Dominance, Cerebral
Electroconvulsive Therapy - methods
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Psychological Tests
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Summary:Nine depressed patients received ECT to the dominant (left) side along with nine matched depressed patients who received ECT to the non-dominant (right) side. Neuropsychological tests showed that the right hemispheric functions were more frequently abnormal as compared to left hemispheric (dominant) functions in the pre-ECT tests. ECTs delivered to either the right or left side improved right hemispheric functions when the depression was ameliorated. This study indicates that in depression right hemispheric functions are initially disturbed and ECT, instead of being deleterious to these functions, tends to improve them.
ISSN:0007-1250
1472-1465
DOI:10.1192/bjp.132.6.560