Experience of using electroconvulsive therapy for bipolar disorder: A retrospective study from North India

Background: Little information is available on response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) from India.

Aim: This exploratory study aims to evaluate and compare the sociodemographic and clinical profiles, treatment outcomes of BD patients with depression and mania/mixed episode who received ECT and to evaluate the predictors of response to ECT.

Results: Data of 278 BD patients who received 325 ECT courses were extracted from the ECT register. The number courses of ECT for bipolar depression (n = 202) exceeded those for mania/mixed episodes (n = 123). In terms of response to ECT, >75% response was achieved in 63.3% cases and >50% response was seen in about 90% of the patients. No significant difference was seen in response to ECTs between bipolar depression and mania/mixed episodes.

Conclusion: The present study suggests that about two-thirds of the BD patients show more than 75% response to ECT, and more than 90% of the BD patients show more than 50% response to ECT.