Electroconvulsive therapy related autobiographical amnesia: a review and case report
Lomas, M; Rickard, V; Milton, F; et al.Savage, S; Weir, A; Zeman, A
Date: 19 January 2021
Article
Journal
Cognitive Neuropsychiatry
Publisher
Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Introduction: While short-term cognitive impairment following electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) is
well described and acknowledged, the relationship between ECT and persistent memory impairment,
particularly of autobiographical memory, has been controversial.
Methods: We describe the case of a 70 year old consultant neurophysiologist, ...
Introduction: While short-term cognitive impairment following electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) is
well described and acknowledged, the relationship between ECT and persistent memory impairment,
particularly of autobiographical memory, has been controversial.
Methods: We describe the case of a 70 year old consultant neurophysiologist, AW, who developed
prominent, selective autobiographical memory loss following two courses of ECT for treatmentresistant depression.
Results: His performance on standard measures of IQ, semantic and episodic memory, executive
function and mood was normal, while he performed significantly below controls on measures of
episodic autobiographical memory.
Conclusions: Explanations in terms of mood-related memory loss and somatoform disorder appear
unlikely. We relate AW’s autobiographical memory impairment, following his ECT, to reports of similar
autobiographical memory impairment occurring in the context of epilepsy, and emphasise the
importance of using sensitive approaches to AbM assessment.
Psychology - old structure
Collections of Former Colleges
Item views 0
Full item downloads 0