Comparison of fronto-frontal and temporo-parietal unilateral ECT.

An intraindividual double-blind cross-over comparison for the anterograde effect on memory of unilateral non-dominant frontofrontal (FF) and temporo-parietal (TP) ECT was performed in connection with the second and third treatment of an ECT-series, the electrode placement being alternated at random. Treatment technique was standardized and seizure duration was measured by means of EEG. Memory functions were tested after treatments by means of four memory tests: the 30 Word-Pair Test, the 30 Figure Test, the 30 Geometrical Figure Test and the 30 Face Test. Three operationally defined memory variables, immediate memory (IMS, 3 hours after ECT), delayed memory (DMS, 3 hours after IMS), and their difference, forgetting, were scored. No differences were found in the mean time of electrical stimulation, in the amount of methohexital and suxamethonium chloride, and in seizure duration between the two treatment groups. No statistically significant differences in any of the memory tests were found. The FF electrode position did not show any advantage compared with the routine TP electrode placement.