Clinical Neuroscience of ECT (CNECT)

Out on PubMed, from investigators in Germany, is this study: No Effect of Serum Electrolyte Levels on Electroconvulsive Therapy Seizure Quality Parameters. Karl S, Sartorius A, Aksay SS. J ECT. 2024 Mar 1;40(1):47-50. doi: 10.1097/YCT.0000000000000966. PMID:  38411578 The abstract is copied below: Introduction: Seizure quality is considered to be associated with treatment outcomes of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A wide range of treatment parameters and patient characteristics are known to influence seizure quality. However, conflicting results exist for the role of serum electrolyte levels and seizure quality. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 454 patients and a total of 2119 individual acute ECT sessions irrespective of diagnosis where a clinical evaluation of serum levels of sodium, potassium, and calcium took place routinely up to 2 days before the ECT session. To assess the impact of serum electrolyte levels on seizure quality parameters, we used mixed-effects lin

 Out on PubMed, from clinicians in Iran, is this study: Comparison of hemodynamic changes and serum potassium levels in the use of succinylcholine and cisatracurium in electroconvulsive therapy. Nazemroaya B, Ghosouri A, Honarmand A, Hashemi ST. J Res Med Sci. 2021 Nov 29;26:106. doi: 10.4103/jrms.JRMS_951_19. eCollection 2021.  PMID:  35126569   Background:  Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is nowadays used commonly as one the most effective treatment methods in psychiatric disorders. In patients undergoing ECT, succinylcholine is usually used. In addition, cisatracurium is occasionally used on a case report basis globally. In this study, we compared the hemodynamic changes and serum potassium levels in the use of succinylcholine and cisatracurium in ECT. Materials and methods:  The current crossover clinical trial was performed on 45 patients who were candidates for ECT between 2017 and 2018. The patients were given succinylcholine or cisatracurium randomly on two separate occasions o