Effective factors in peripheral seizure production in patients undergoing Electroconvulsive Therapy from anesthesia perspective

Aim and Electroconvulsive therapy(ECT) is one of the most effective and prompt therapies for severe psychotic issues. This study aims to distinguish the impact of age, disease and medications on the seizure caused by ECT. Methods and Materials: 123 patients were studied and categorized according to their age, psychotic disorder and medications (anti-psychotics, anti-depressive or both of them). The correlation of these variants with seizure duration were discussed in every session of ECT.The seizure duration was recorded based on clinical convulsion and EEG parameters. The failure or success of ECT was evaluated by seizure time measurement to be less or greater than 20 sec, respectively. There was no significant difference observed between men and women in regards to the average seizure duration in different sessions (6 sessions) (P=0.25).There was either no significant difference observed in seizure duration in various sessions between patients under and above 40 years of ag (P=0.45). Again no significant difference was seen in seizure duration among patients with psychotic and mood disorders or between patients using anti-psychotic or anti- psychotic and anti- depressant drugs for therapy, respectively (P=0.38 and P=0.14). Accurate knowledge about patients who are candidate to receive Electroconvulsive Therapy is very important. Type of psychologic disorder, type of drug protocol and the number of sessions of ECT, all are the factors which should be considered in every ECT procedure.