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. 2021 Sep;144(3):230-237.
doi: 10.1111/acps.13334. Epub 2021 Jun 28.

Relapse after abrupt discontinuation of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic

Simon Lambrichts  1 , Kristof Vansteelandt  1 , Bo Crauwels  1 , Jasmien Obbels  1 , Eva Pilato  1 , Jonas Denduyver  2 , Katrien Ernes  2 , Pieter-Paul Maebe  2 , Charlotte Migchels  2 , Lore Roosen  2 , Satya Buggenhout  2 , Filip Bouckaert  2 , Didier Schrijvers  3 , Pascal Sienaert  1
Affiliations

Relapse after abrupt discontinuation of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic

Simon Lambrichts et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (M-ECT) is considered an effective relapse prevention strategy in severe mood and psychotic disorders. How long M-ECT should be continued, and what the outcome is after its discontinuation has not been adequately studied. In our tertiary psychiatric hospital, M-ECT treatments were suspended at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to determine the 6-month relapse rate and time to relapse after abrupt discontinuation of M-ECT and to assess the impact of patient and treatment characteristics on the risk of relapse.

Methods: Eighty-one patients whose M-ECT was discontinued abruptly were followed up prospectively for 6 months, or until relapse (i.e., hospital admission, restart of ECT, change of pharmacotherapy, or suicide (attempt)). We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to assess the impact of patient and treatment characteristics on the risk of relapse.

Results: Thirty-six patients (44.44%) relapsed within 6 months following abrupt discontinuation of M-ECT. A greater number of previous acute ECT courses, a diagnosis of psychotic disorder (compared with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder), and a shorter interval between M-ECT treatments at the time of discontinuation were significantly associated with increased risk of relapse.

Conclusion: Almost half of the patients relapsed, similar to the relapse rate after a successful acute course of ECT. Patients with a shorter interval between M-ECT treatments at the time of discontinuation seem to be at increased risk, as well as patients with a diagnosis of psychotic disorder, compared to patients with mood disorders.

Keywords: COVID-19; discontinuation; maintenance electroconvulsive therapy; relapse.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow diagram of patient selection, relapse event, and subsequent restart of ECT.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Relapse‐free survival after abrupt discontinuation of M‐ECT by (A) diagnosis and (B) indication. Multivariable‐adjusted survival curves estimated with a Cox proportional hazards model.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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