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A retrospective case series of electroconvulsive therapy in the management of comorbid depression and anorexia nervosa
Author(s) -
Shilton Tal,
EnochLevy Adi,
Giron Yanai,
Yaroslavsky Amit,
Amiaz Revital,
Gothelf Doron,
Weizman Abraham,
Stein Daniel
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.23181
Subject(s) - electroconvulsive therapy , anorexia nervosa , depression (economics) , major depressive disorder , psychiatry , psychology , concomitant , retrospective cohort study , body mass index , suicide attempt , major depressive episode , poison control , eating disorders , medicine , injury prevention , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , mood , emergency medicine , economics , macroeconomics
Abstract Objective Major depressive disorder (MDD) is common in anorexia nervosa (AN), associated with worse outcome and greater suicide risk. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is highly effective in the treatment of MDD refractory to antidepressive treatment. We describe a case series of female adolescents with AN receiving ECT for MDD resistant to treatment and/or with severe suicide risk. Method We retrospectively analyzed the files of all 30 adolescent females hospitalized in our department because of AN between 1998 and 2017 and treated with ECT. Severity of eating disorder (ED) and depressive symptoms was retrospectively assessed using the Clinical Global Impression‐Severity Scale. Results Patients were severely depressed and suicidal on admission. All were resistant to antidepressants. A significant deterioration in depression, with severe suicidality, occurred from admission to pre‐ECT, with concomitant improvement in ED symptoms and increase in body mass index (BMI). Significant improvement in depressive and ED symptoms and increase in BMI occurred following ECT, continuing to discharge. Adverse effects were mostly minimal. Fifty‐three percentage of the patients were rehospitalized within the first year after ECT, mostly because of deterioration of depression and attempted suicide. Several years after discharge, 46.6% of the patients had no evidence of depression, suicidality, and ED‐symptomatology, and another 23% had only evidence of ED symptomatology. Discussion ECT is safe and well tolerated in AN with severe comorbid treatment resistant MDD and/or with increased suicide risk. Many AN patients undergoing ECT may be remitted at long‐term follow‐up.