Visuospatial impairment in depression: a controlled ECT study

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1990 Mar;81(3):245-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1990.tb06489.x.

Abstract

In order to study the effect of bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on visuospatial function in depression, a comparison was made between the performance of 20 ECT-treated patients and 20 healthy controls on a battery of neuropsychological tests including the Complex Figure Test (CFT) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The CFT but not the MMSE performances of depressives vs controls were impaired in pre-ECT testing. While ECT does not affect visuospatial performance, cognitive deficits are unveiled by MMSE. Possible meanings of these findings are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / psychology*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy*
  • Dominance, Cerebral*
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory*
  • Memory, Short-Term
  • Mental Recall*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Orientation*
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual
  • Psychomotor Performance*