Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for Cognitive Impairment of Depression

Liebman, Lauren S. BA
Nazarian, Roya S. BA
Kellner, Charles H. MD

Lauren S. Liebman, BA, is a Research Coordinator, Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Roya S. Nazarian, BA, is a Research Coordinator, Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Charles H. Kellner, MD, is a Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Address correspondence to: Charles H. Kellner, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1230, New York, NY 10029; fax: 212-659-8576; email: [email protected].

Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Psychiatric Annals 42(12):p 456-459, December 01, 2012. | DOI: 10.3928/00485713-20121203-05

CME Educational Objectives

Know when electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is indicated for patients presenting with depression.
Recognize the presentation of pseudodementia.
Know the impact of ECT on cognitive function in patients with dementia.

Mr. B, a 76-year-old married, retired professional male, is brought into your office by his wife for evaluation of his behavioral change. He was recently diagnosed by his primary care physician as having dementia and was started on donepezil 5 mg/day.