Cognitive impairment and electroconvulsive therapy in geriatric depression, what could be the role of rivastigmine? A case series

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), albeit highly effective in treating depression, is frequently associated with cognitive impairment, either temporary or more persistent. Especially in older patients, who generally respond even better, serious cognitive impairment during the course of ECT may lead to...

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Main Authors: Audrey Monica van Schaik, Didi Rhebergen, Marieke Jantien Henstra, Daniel J. Kadouch, Eric van Exel, Maximilianus Lourentius Stek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-09-01
Series:Clinics and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.clinicsandpractice.org/index.php/cp/article/view/780
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spelling doaj-7e97fdd5498949fe923c5ca2700552912021-03-02T09:10:51ZengMDPI AGClinics and Practice2039-72752039-72832015-09-015310.4081/cp.2015.780315Cognitive impairment and electroconvulsive therapy in geriatric depression, what could be the role of rivastigmine? A case seriesAudrey Monica van Schaik0Didi Rhebergen1Marieke Jantien Henstra2Daniel J. Kadouch3Eric van Exel4Maximilianus Lourentius Stek5GGZ inGeest, AmsterdamGGZ inGeest, Amsterdam; Department of Psychiatry and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, AmsterdamDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, VU University Medical Center, AmsterdamAcademic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, AmsterdamDepartment of Psychiatry and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, AmsterdamDepartment of Psychiatry and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, AmsterdamElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT), albeit highly effective in treating depression, is frequently associated with cognitive impairment, either temporary or more persistent. Especially in older patients, who generally respond even better, serious cognitive impairment during the course of ECT may lead to premature termination of ECT. Treatment of this cognitive impairment is of utmost importance. In this case series report, we present the effect of rivastigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, on cognitive impairment in three older, severely depressed patients during or after a course of ECT. An improvement of cognitive functioning, in particular a decline of confusional symptoms, was observed in two patients with structural brain alterations associated with aging. In the other patient, who suffered primarily from amnesia, no effect of rivastigmine was observed. These preliminary results emphasize the need for detailed profiling of cognitive impairment when developing a research design to study the potential benefits of rivastigmine in the prevention or treatment of cognitive impairment in severely depressed patients treated with ECT.https://www.clinicsandpractice.org/index.php/cp/article/view/780Depressioncognitive impairmentelectroconvulsive therapyelderlyacetylcholinesterase inhibitorrivastigmine.
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Audrey Monica van Schaik
Didi Rhebergen
Marieke Jantien Henstra
Daniel J. Kadouch
Eric van Exel
Maximilianus Lourentius Stek
spellingShingle Audrey Monica van Schaik
Didi Rhebergen
Marieke Jantien Henstra
Daniel J. Kadouch
Eric van Exel
Maximilianus Lourentius Stek
Cognitive impairment and electroconvulsive therapy in geriatric depression, what could be the role of rivastigmine? A case series
Clinics and Practice
Depression
cognitive impairment
electroconvulsive therapy
elderly
acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
rivastigmine.
author_facet Audrey Monica van Schaik
Didi Rhebergen
Marieke Jantien Henstra
Daniel J. Kadouch
Eric van Exel
Maximilianus Lourentius Stek
author_sort Audrey Monica van Schaik
title Cognitive impairment and electroconvulsive therapy in geriatric depression, what could be the role of rivastigmine? A case series
title_short Cognitive impairment and electroconvulsive therapy in geriatric depression, what could be the role of rivastigmine? A case series
title_full Cognitive impairment and electroconvulsive therapy in geriatric depression, what could be the role of rivastigmine? A case series
title_fullStr Cognitive impairment and electroconvulsive therapy in geriatric depression, what could be the role of rivastigmine? A case series
title_full_unstemmed Cognitive impairment and electroconvulsive therapy in geriatric depression, what could be the role of rivastigmine? A case series
title_sort cognitive impairment and electroconvulsive therapy in geriatric depression, what could be the role of rivastigmine? a case series
publisher MDPI AG
series Clinics and Practice
issn 2039-7275
2039-7283
publishDate 2015-09-01
description Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), albeit highly effective in treating depression, is frequently associated with cognitive impairment, either temporary or more persistent. Especially in older patients, who generally respond even better, serious cognitive impairment during the course of ECT may lead to premature termination of ECT. Treatment of this cognitive impairment is of utmost importance. In this case series report, we present the effect of rivastigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, on cognitive impairment in three older, severely depressed patients during or after a course of ECT. An improvement of cognitive functioning, in particular a decline of confusional symptoms, was observed in two patients with structural brain alterations associated with aging. In the other patient, who suffered primarily from amnesia, no effect of rivastigmine was observed. These preliminary results emphasize the need for detailed profiling of cognitive impairment when developing a research design to study the potential benefits of rivastigmine in the prevention or treatment of cognitive impairment in severely depressed patients treated with ECT.
topic Depression
cognitive impairment
electroconvulsive therapy
elderly
acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
rivastigmine.
url https://www.clinicsandpractice.org/index.php/cp/article/view/780
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