A comparison of propofol and methohexital as anesthetic agents for ECT: effects on seizure duration, therapeutic outcome, and memory.

Author(s): Martensson B, Bartfai A, Hallen B, Hellstrom C, Junthe T, Olander M

Affiliation(s): Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Karolinska Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Publication date & source: 1994-02-01, Biol Psychiatry., 35(3):179-89.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

The effects of the anesthetic agents propofol and methohexital on seizure duration, clinical outcome, recovery, and memory in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were studied in a double-blind trial. The study comprised 53 patients, 47 patients with major depression and six patients with other diagnoses according to DSM-III. Several recent clinical studies with a crossover design have shown a reduced seizure duration for anesthesia with propofol in comparison with both methohexital and thiopental. Propofol significantly reduced the seizure duration in this study without reducing the therapeutic outcome as measured by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Propofol did not significantly alter the length of the course of ECT; however, a slightly prolonged course for women cannot be completely ruled out. There were no significant differences between the two agents in effects on recovery times after anesthesia and on anterograde memory. In general, it seems that propofol is as effective as methohexital as an induction agent for ECT.