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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00069407

Comparison of Three Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Techniques for the Treatment of Major Depression

This study will compare the antidepressant benefits and cognitive side effects of three different types of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in people with unipolar or bipolar depression.

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Key information

Conditions

Depression Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Bipolar Disorder Bipolar and Related Disorders Mental Disorders Mood Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States

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About this study

ECT is an important treatment for severely depressed people who do not respond adequately to, or are intolerant of, antidepressant medication. Traditionally, ECT has been administered with one of two standard techniques: bilateral and right unilateral electrode placement. However, these techniques are limited by either low efficacy or high cognitive impairment. Recently, an additional technique for ECT administration has shown promise in preliminary studies: bifrontal ECT. This study will compare this technique to the two traditional ECT techniques in treating people with depressive symptoms.

Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to receive standard bilateral ECT, high-dose right unilateral ECT, or bifrontal ECT in their index course. Depression symptoms, neuropsychological status, and quality of life will be measured throughout the course of the ECT treatment, one week after, and at a 2-month follow-up visit. This study will run for 4 years.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of unipolar or bipolar depression

Treatment and study plan

Electroconvulsive therapy

Procedure

Electroconvulsive therapy

Primary outcomes

  1. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, 24 item

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Depression symptom rating

Secondary outcomes

  1. Neuropsychological assessment

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    neuropsychological test battery

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Registry information

Official study title

Comparing Three Electrode Placements to Optimize ECT

Important dates

Study start
2003
Primary completion
2006
Study completion
2006
First posted
Sep 25, 2003
Registry last updated
Dec 16, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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