Practice of electroconvulsive therapy at University Hospital, The University of Tokushima School of Medicine from 1975 to 1997

Background:In Western nations the effect of ECT has been re-evaluated since the 1970s, while reports on ECT are few in Japan.
Methods:The sample included 3,067 patients admitted to Tokushima University Hospital between 1975 and 1997. Hospital charts were reviewed retrospectively for ECT .
Results:ECT was carried out on 6.03%of all subjects;11.97% of patients with schizophrenia, 4.88% with manic depressive psychosis, 7.44% with atypical psychosis and 3.27% with psychogenic reactions. The remission rate from ECT was 68.11% of all subjects ; 59.85% with schizophrenia, 100% with manic depressive psychosis, 100% with atypical psychosis and 92.0%with psychogenic reactions. Patients averaged 10.26 treatments. ECT had been administered mainly to patients who had responded poorly to pharmacotherapy and to patients who required rapid improvement of life-threatening symptoms. ECT was highly effective for symptoms as excitement, suicidal tendencies and stupor. Side effects were claimed by 36.77% of patients.
Conclusions:ECT is suggested to be a useful therapeutic modality in current psychiatric practice.

データ元 : http://medical.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp/jmi/