The Efficacy and Tolerability of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Psychiatric Patients with Arachnoid Cysts: A Retrospective Chart Study.

Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective therapy for many psychiatric illnesses. However, intracranial occupying lesions are a relative contraindication to ECT. Arachnoid cysts are benign, congenital, and space-occupying lesions. Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of ECT in psychiatric patients with arachnoid cysts. We retrospectively identified 62 psychiatric patients with arachnoid cysts; 43 of them underwent ECT and 19 did not. Their conditions were assessed by CGI-S and different scales depending on different diagnoses (PANSS for schizophrenia; HAMD for depression; YMRS for bipolar disorder). The side effect was assessed by TESS. Significant differences were shown in the reduced scores of the CGI-S between patients who underwent ECT and those who did not (p = 0.001), while, at the same time, there was no significant difference in their TESS score (p = 0.297). The current study found that ECT is an effective and tolerable therapy for psychiatric patients with arachnoid cysts.

• Authors: Ying Lu, Yu Tian, Yu Gan, Yixiao Fu, Qibin Chen, Lei Zou, Bangshu Zhao, Yu Yan, Shudong Liu, Xiaolu Chen, Xiao Li
• Journal: Brain sciences (Brain Sci) Vol. 12 Issue 10 (Oct 15 2022) ISSN: 2076-3425 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 36291326 (Publication Type: Journal Article)