ECT and memory: brief pulse versus sine wave.

The authors evaluated the effects on memory of ECT given with either unilateral or bilateral electrode placement and with brief-pulse or sine-wave stimulus waveform. Clinical criteria determined the mode of ECT and the treatment parameters. As expected, right unilateral ECT produced less memory impairment than bilateral ECT. Brief-pulse ECT resulted in less memory impairment than sine-wave ECT during the first hour after treatment but had similar effects on memory after the first hour. Brief-pulse ECT might produce less memory impairment than conventional sine-wave ECT; however, this can probably be achieved in clinical practice only if treatment parameters that keep stimulation close to the seizure threshold are developed individually for each patient.