ECT: III: Enduring cognitive deficits?

Cognitive function was compared in carefully matched groups of ECT and non-ECT treated depressives and in matched normal volunteer controls on admission, at 4 months and at 7 months. ECT caused little impairment at 4 months and no impairment at 7 months on a comprehensive cognitive test battery. Severity of depression had a marked effect on cognitive function. Within the ECT group bilateral ECT caused more impairment than unilateral ECT one week after a course but 3 months later the differences had disappeared. They were equally antidepressant.