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Biomedical subjects

Shirlene M Sampson

Publications and source records attributed to Shirlene M Sampson.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Use of electroconvulsive therapy in a patient 10 days after myocardial infarction.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment of severe depression, even in patients with cardiac risk factors. Although rare, cardiovascular events during ECT remain a principal cause of morbidity and mortality. In particular, a history of recent myocardial infarction (MI) increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac rupture. A widely accepted recommendation is to administer ECT at least 3 months after MI, but sometimes a delay is not possible. Limited literature exists on the use of ECT in severely depressed patients with recent MI. Our literature review revealed 1 previously published case, with less than favorable results. In this case report, we describe a severely depressed, catatonic elderly man who was safely and successfully treated with ECT 10 days after an acute MI. It is essential that appropriate cardiac management be provided before, during, and after ECT by a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, internists, cardiologists, and anesthesiologists. Our case report suggests that, with proper management and close monitoring, ECT can be administered safely, even in patients with recent MI.

Aged↗

Relationship between somatization and remission with ECT.

Patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were divided into those with less severe depression and those with more severe depression. In the less severely depressed group, high somatic anxiety and hypochondriasis predicted a low likelihood of sustained remission with ECT. In the more severely depressed group, these traits were not predictive of ECT outcome.

Adult↗

Electroconvulsive therapy and newer modalities for the treatment of medication-refractory mental illness.

Severe mental illnesses often remain chronic and refractory to medication, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. For more than 60 years, electroconvulsive therapy has been the only nonpharmacological psychiatric procedure available to treat severe or medication-refractory major depressive disorder and other psychiatric conditions. Memory dysfunction remains the most serious adverse effect, and current research focuses on attempts to ameliorate this complication. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation, 2 new neuropsychiatric technologies, are emerging as possible additions to our therapeutic armamentarium. Besides providing therapeutic benefits, these 3 methods may help elucidate the pathophysiology of psychiatric illness.

Drug Resistance↗

Slow-frequency rTMS reduces fibromyalgia pain.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence suggests that fibromyalgia (FM) is a centrally mediated pain disorder. Antidepressants, including electroconvulsive therapy, provide some symptomatic relief in FM and other pain disorders. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a new antidepressant treatment, which may also be useful in treating chronic pain. DESIGN: As part of a larger study, four women with depression, FM, and borderline personality disorder received 1-Hz rTMS applied to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Subjects rated pain using an 11-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Pretreatment pain averaged 8.2 (7-9.5) and reduced to 1.5 (0-3.5) after treatment (P < 0.009). All had improvement in pain, and two had complete resolution of pain. Only one of the four subjects had an antidepressant response. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest a possible role for rTMS in treating FM.

Adult↗