Long Term Cognitive Impact of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients with Early Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is the umbrella term to describe several overlapping neurodegenerative syndromes including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Most patients with FTLD present initially with psychiatric symptoms such as apathy, depressed mood, and fatigue (often with a mild Parkinsonism) that almost always prove refractory to medication interventions and psychotherapy. Some patients may be recommended for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which in our clinical experience, is not effective and potentially harmful.
Source: The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Source Type: research