Electroconvulsive in a 75-year-old patient with severe agitated behavior and dementia

• Main Authors: Harshal Sathe, Mosam Phirke, Nilesh Shah, Sushma Sonavane, Avinash Desousa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: Journal of Geriatric Mental Health
• Subjects: Aggression; agitated behavior; Alzheimer's; cognitive decline; dementia; electroconvulsive therapy
• Online Access: http://www.jgmh.org/article.asp?issn=2348-9995;year=2017;volume=4;issue=2;spage=153;epage=155;aulast=Sathe

Various drugs have been used in the management of behavioral and psychotic symptoms including aggression and agitation in dementia. However, the risk of side effects and sedation limits the use of higher doses of many agents. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been used in the management of behavioral symptoms related to dementia although sparingly and rare. We report the case of a 75.year.old male patient with moderate Alzheimer's dementia and severe agitated behavior and aggression which failed to respond to pharmacological treatment and whom we treated using seven ECT sessions with success. Significant clinical improvement was noted and no cognitive decline or worsening of the dementia in any form was reported. The patient was followed up 6 months post the ECT sessions. This case report demonstrates the safety and efficacy ECT use patients with Alzheimer's dementia when behavioral problems and aggression or agitation fail to respond to medications.