Table 1.
Demographic and Clinical Characteristics at Study Entry, According to Treatment Group.*
| VARIABLE | Ultrabrief Pulse Right Unilateral ECT (N = 22) | Ultrabrief Pulse Bilateral ECT (N = 23) | Brief Pulse Right Unilateral ECT (N = 22) | Brief Pulse Bilateral ECT (N = 23) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (yr) | 54±16 | 51±17 | 45±14 | 53±18 |
| Sex (% female) | 55 | 57 | 59 | 56 |
| Education (yr) | 15±3 | 15±3 | 15±3 | 15±3 |
| Verbal IQ | 112±19 | 107±16 | 108±19 | 109±16 |
| Familial socioeconomic status (range 1–5)† | 2.1±1.0 | 1.5±0.8 | 1.9±0.9 | 1.8±0.9 |
| Psychotic depression (%)‡ | 23 | 26 | 9 | 4 |
| Unipolar/bipolar (% bipolar depression)‡ | 23 | 26 | 36 | 35 |
| Pretreatment HRSD | 30±7 | 32±8 | 31±7 | 29±7 |
| History of past ECT (%) | 18 | 30 | 27 | 35 |
| Duration of current episode (mo)§ | 36±38 | 28±32 | 24±30 | 27±33 |
| No. of previous affective episodes¶ | 3±3 | 3±3 | 3±4 | 3±3 |
| No. of previous psychiatric hospitalizations¶ | 1±2 | 2±2 | 1±2 | 2±3 |
| Age at onset of affective disorder (yr) | 27±21 | 26±20 | 23±12 | 32±21 |
| No. of medication trials during episode | 5±4 | 6±4 | 6±3 | 5±4 |
| No. of adequate antidepressant trials‖ | 2±2 | 2±1 | 3±2 | 2±2 |
| Medication resistance rating (0–5 range)‖ | 3.2±1.3 | 3.1±1.4 | 3.5±1.1 | 3.6±1.1 |
Plus–minus values are means ±SD. There were no significant differences among the groups on any variable other than psychotic depression. The ultrabrief pulse groups had a higher rate of psychotic depression than the brief pulse groups (P=0.03).
Hollingshead Four-Factor Index (1, highest socioeconomic status; 5 lowest socioeconomic status).
Research Diagnostic Criteria23 probable or definite.
Upper limit of 120 months used.
Upper limit of 10 used.
Each antidepressant medication trial during the index episode before ECT was rated for potency (1 = definitely inadequate due to insufficient dose and/or duration; 3 = trial meets threshold criteria for adequacy of dose and duration using established antidepressant medication; 5 = definitely adequate trial of sufficient dose and duration with established antidepressant medication and an established augmentation strategy).26 Total number of adequate trials was determined, while the medication resistance rating corresponded to the rating of the most potent trial.