Efficacy, safety and tolerability of formula-based unilateral vs bilateral electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of major depression: A randomized open label controlled trial.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains the most effective treatment of depression, though it is still unclear which of its type is the most beneficial. The aim of this study was to compare the formula-based right unilateral ECT (RUL) with the fronto-temporal bilateral ECT (BT), in terms of their efficacy, safety and tolerability in patients with bipolar or unipolar depression. Ninety-one patients were randomly assigned to either BT (n = 45) or RUL (n = 46) ECT. Brief pulse width (0.5 ms) and a formula-based dosing method were applied. The clinical efficacy was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-21).The somatic state was monitored throughout the ECT course and cognitive examination included: general cognitive performance, executive functions, visual-spatial functions, verbal fluency, verbal memory and autobiographical memory. Efficacy outcomes were not found to be significantly different between groups when using higher doses of energy in RUL ECT. Patients in RUL group were less likely to be confused and experienced increased blood pressure. The indices of general cognitive performance and verbal auditory memory were also significantly better this group, while BT ECT did not change these functions. Both ECT types resulted in a decline in the retrieval consistency of autobiographical memory that persists for at least three months and was significantly more marked in BT group as compared to RUL. In conclusion, formula-based RUL ECT does not differ from BT in antidepressant efficacy and has an advantage in terms of safety (lower incidence of increased blood pressure and fewer disturbances of consciousness) and tolerability (impact on cognitive functions).

Obstructive sleep apnea in severe mental disorders.

The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is estimated to be 3-7.5% in men and 2-3% in women. In mentally ill population it is even higher, as these patients are a high risk OSA group. The aim of the paper was a review of literature about the prevalence of sleep apnoea in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and recurrent depressive disorder.The available data show that OSA is present in 15-48% of patients with schizophrenia, 21-43% of patients with bipolar disorder and 11-18% of patients with recurrent depressive disorder. The lack of diagnosis of OSA in people with mental illnesses has multiple negative consequences. The symptoms of sleep apnoea might imitate the symptoms of mental illnesses such as negative symptoms of schizophrenia and symptoms of depression, they might as well aggravate the cognitive impairment. A number of the drugs used in mental disorders may aggravate the symptoms of OSA. OSA is as well the risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases which are a serious clinical problem in mentally ill people and contribute to shortening of their expected lifespan. From the point of view of the physicians treating OSA it is important to pay attention to the fact that co-existing depression is the most common reason for resistant daytime sleepiness in OSA patients treated effectively with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). CPAP therapy leads to significant improvement of mood. However, in schizophrenia and bipolar patients it may rarely lead to acute worsening of mental state, exacerbation of psychotic symptoms or phase shift from depression to mania.