Cognitive functioning in depressed geriatric patients with a history of ECT.

Cognitive functioning in depressed geriatric patients, some with a history of ECT, was assessed with the Trail Making B test. Depressed patients over the age of 65 who had had at least one prior series of ECT performed more poorly on the test than did older patients with no history of ECT and younger depressed patients regardless of their ECT history. The groups did not differ in severity of depression. Careful assessment of elderly patients' history of ECT will allow for more informed decisions about the current use of ECT and an understanding of the cognitive status of these patients.