Open AccessEfficacy of Donepezil in Improving Cognitive Impairment Induced by Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients with Mood Disorders: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Author(s) -
Elham Zarean,
Morteza Sedehi,
Yalda Heshmati
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iranian journal of psychiatry and behavioral sciences/iranian journal of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1735-9287
pISSN - 1735-8639
DOI - 10.5812/ijpbs.107598
Subject(s) - donepezil , electroconvulsive therapy , mood , psychology , placebo , randomized controlled trial , rivastigmine , psychiatry , cognition , medicine , clinical psychology , dementia , alternative medicine , disease , pathology
Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective strategy in the treatment of mood disorders; however, it is associated with some cognitive complications. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of donepezil as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor in improving cognitive impairment induced by ECT in mood disorder patients. Methods: Ninety-six mood disorder patients were randomly assigned to the donepezil (5mg/day) or placebo groups. The Persian versions of the Mini-Mental Status examination (MMSE) and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R) were used to evaluate cognitive performance before the first ECT session, after the fourth ECT session, and four weeks after the last ECT session. Results: The mean scores of MMSE and ACE-R revealed significant improvement in the donepezil group over time (P < 0.001). All ACE-R subscales increased significantly following the intervention implementation in the donepezil group (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the donepezil group reported no remarkable complications and completed the study. Conclusions: Donepezil co-administration with ECT may improve the ECT-induced cognitive disturbances.