Premium
Effect of electroconvulsive therapy for the treatment of senile depression with marked pseudohysterical symptoms
Author(s) -
KOBAYASHI Toshiyuki,
NOGUCHI Masayuki,
ABE Takaaki,
KATO Satoshi
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
psychogeriatrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.647
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1479-8301
pISSN - 1346-3500
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-8301.2004.00057.x
Subject(s) - electroconvulsive therapy , depression (economics) , anticipation (artificial intelligence) , medicine , adverse effect , psychiatry , pediatrics , cognition , artificial intelligence , computer science , economics , macroeconomics
Two elderly patients with prolonged depression and prominent pseudohysterical symptoms were successively treated using electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Patient 1, a 71‐year‐old woman, developed depression in anticipation of her husband's retirement from his post as a college president and his receiving of a civilian decoration . She became bedridden because of the adverse effects of the antidepressants, and she was admitted to our hospital. Initial treatment was efficacious to some extent; however, after moving from a private room to an eight‐person ward, she began to exhibit passive‐aggressive behavior and seemed to seek attention. Her diagnosis and treatment was difficult, but ECT relieved her symptoms. Patient 2, a 74‐year‐old man, developed depression after experiencing domestic trivialities. Treatment as an outpatient produced numerous adverse effects and was of little effect, so the patient was admitted to hospital. As was seen in patient 1, this patient was moved to a ward room after he showed an initial improvement, but his condition deteriorated and he began to show passive‐aggressive behavior; ECT also relieved his symptoms. A multidisciplinary strategy, including ECT during the early period of treatment, might be effective for the treatment of senile depression.