Javier Salvador Sánchez1, Mónica Delia David1, Aurora Torrent Setó1, Montserrat Martínez Alonso2, Maria J Portella Moll3, Josep Pifarré Paredero1, Eduard Vieta Pascual4, María Mur Laín5. 1. Servicio de Psiquiatría, Salud Mental y Adicciones, Hospital Universitario de Santa María-Gestión de Servicios Sanitarios, Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Lleida, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica (IRBLleida), Lleida, España. 2. Servicio de Bioestadística y Soporte Metodológico, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica (IRB), Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Lleida, Lleida, España. 3. Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Barcelona, España. 4. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Barcelona, España; Programa de Trastorno Bipolar, Servicio de Psiquiatría y Psicología, Hospital Clínic, Universidad de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, España. 5. Servicio de Psiquiatría, Salud Mental y Adicciones, Hospital Universitario de Santa María-Gestión de Servicios Sanitarios, Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Lleida, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica (IRBLleida), Lleida, España. Electronic address: mmur@gss.scs.es.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The influence of age and gender in the electrical charge delivered in a given population was analysed using an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) clinical database. MATERIAL AND METHOD: An observational, prospective, longitudinal study with descriptive analysis was performed using data from a database that included total bilateral frontotemporal ECT carried out with a Mecta spECTrum 5000Q® in our hospital over 6 years. From 2006 to 2012, a total of 4,337 ECT were performed on 187 patients. Linear regression using mixed effects analysis was weighted by the inverse of the number of ECT performed on each patient per year of treatment. RESULTS: The results indicate that age is related with changes in the required charge (P=.031), as such that the older the age a higher charge is needed. Gender is also associated with changes in charge (P=.014), with women requiring less charge than men, a mean of 87.3mC less. When the effects of age and gender are included in the same model, both are significant (P=.0080 and P=.0041). Thus, for the same age, women require 99.0mC less charge than men, and in both genders the charge increases by 2.3mC per year. CONCLUSIONS: From our study, it is concluded that the effect of age on the dosage of the electrical charge is even more significant when related to gender. It would be of interest to promote the systematic collection of data for a better understanding and application of the technique.
INTRODUCTION: The influence of age and gender in the electrical charge delivered in a given population was analysed using an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) clinical database. MATERIAL AND METHOD: An observational, prospective, longitudinal study with descriptive analysis was performed using data from a database that included total bilateral frontotemporal ECT carried out with a Mecta spECTrum 5000Q® in our hospital over 6 years. From 2006 to 2012, a total of 4,337 ECT were performed on 187 patients. Linear regression using mixed effects analysis was weighted by the inverse of the number of ECT performed on each patient per year of treatment. RESULTS: The results indicate that age is related with changes in the required charge (P=.031), as such that the older the age a higher charge is needed. Gender is also associated with changes in charge (P=.014), with women requiring less charge than men, a mean of 87.3mC less. When the effects of age and gender are included in the same model, both are significant (P=.0080 and P=.0041). Thus, for the same age, women require 99.0mC less charge than men, and in both genders the charge increases by 2.3mC per year. CONCLUSIONS: From our study, it is concluded that the effect of age on the dosage of the electrical charge is even more significant when related to gender. It would be of interest to promote the systematic collection of data for a better understanding and application of the technique.