Electroconvulsive treatment of a patient with Parkinson's disease and moderate depression
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2011-05-19Metadata
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Berg, J.E. (2011). Electroconvulsive treatment of a patient with Parkinson's disease and moderate depression. Mental Illness, 3 (1), 8-10 http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/mi.2011.e3Abstract
Depression is a usual comorbidity in
patients with Parkinson’s disease. It has been
known for more than 50 years that electroconvulsive
treatment (ECT) has a positive effect
on the muscular symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Many countries do not allow giving ECT
for this indication. We have recently treated a
resident patient in an acute psychiatric facility
referred to the hospital with moderate depressive
symptoms and strong suicidal ideation.
Before and after a series of ECT he filled out
the Beck Depression Inventory and the
Antonovsky Sense of Coherence test. The
scores before ECT were 20 and 2.69, respectively,
and after 12 treatments 14 and 3.38.
Both test results indicate improvement regarding
level of depression and coping in life. The
physiotherapists treating him observed that
his rigidity was reduced and his gait improved.
Muscular tonus was reduced and increased his
tendency of falling as he had less tonus in
muscles close to joints. Self help efficiency in
daily tasks improved. He got cognitive impairment
during and in the weeks after ECT.
Electroconvulsive treatment should be offered
to more patients with Parkinson disease and
depression in order to lessen the burden of
both depression and Parkinson symptoms.