RESUMO
ABSTRACT: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered the gold standard treatment for many psychiatric illnesses; however, it is not without risk. There have been no systematic reviews to date on new-onset atrial fibrillation following ECT. Thus, the aim of this study is to identify reported occurrences of new-onset atrial fibrillation following ECT and the ability to safely resume ECT thereafter.A case pertaining to the development of atrial fibrillation after ECT in a young healthy male is presented. In addition, a systematic review of the literature pertaining to atrial fibrillation after ECT was conducted through PubMed, PsycInfo, and EMBASE. Of the 233 articles screened, 15 articles were selected for in-depth review. Of the 15 articles, only 10 articles met inclusion criteria. These articles included 9 case reports and 1 retrospective review. The retrospective review included 1 patient that developed atrial fibrillation out of 13 patients receiving ECT at the site. The 10 patients included varied in age, risk factors, type of ECT conducted, and treatment of the atrial fibrillation. Of the 4 articles that discussed outcomes, all patients were able to return to ECT without further complications.There are many potential reasons ECT may induce atrial fibrillation, and there are additional treatment considerations for atrial fibrillation in patients receiving ECT. Notably, our results indicate that many have been able to continue ECT without further complications; however, more research is needed to identify the frequency of this adverse reaction.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the potential for safe and effective use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in treating eating disorders (EDs) in patients with and without comorbid psychiatric disorders. METHODS: A review of the literature pertaining to the use of ECT in patients with EDs was performed through PubMed, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE. Search terms included "Electroconvulsive Therapy," "ECT," and "Electroshock" each combined with "Anorexia Nervosa," "Bulimia Nervosa," "Binge Eating Disorder," "Eating Disorder," "EDNOS," and "OSFED." Additionally, a case in which ECT was used in treating a patient with anorexia nervosa is presented. RESULTS: Eighty-nine articles were reviewed, and 11 were selected for inclusion. These articles detailed 14 patients with active EDs who received ECT during their course of treatment. Of these patients, 13 were noted to have shown improvement in disordered eating after receiving ECT, and no adverse medical outcomes were reported. Our case detailed an additional patient who benefitted from ECT. CONCLUSIONS: There are limited data supporting the use of ECT in treating EDs; however, there is evidence to support that ECT is safe in this population and has been effective in cases of patients with AN with and without psychiatric comorbidities as well as binge eating disorder. More research is needed for treatment guidelines.
