College
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Keywords
psychiatry, mental health, obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD, ECT, refractive OCD
IRB or IACUC Protocol Number
n/a
Date of Presentation
5-1-2025 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects up to 2.5% of the population with significant impacts on everyday functioning and relationships. First-line treatment includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and cognitive behavioral therapy; however, studies have found that up to 40-60% of patients do not respond to SSRIs. ECT is an alternative approach that has demonstrated limited efficacy in OCD.
Objective: The current review aims to summarize the results of published work between 2014-2024 to assess the efficacy of ECT in the treatment of OCD.
Methods: A literature review was conducted using eight studies from 2014-2024 to assess the effectiveness of ECT in the treatment of OCD as measured by the Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y‐BOCS). ECT was administered adjunctively with medications, not as a standalone treatment.
Results: Y-BOCS scores decreased by an average of 16.75 after ECT treatment. 77.7% participants reported a positive response immediately after ECT. 13.3% reported side effects including headaches, memory disturbances, emesis and post-treatment agitation. 20% reported recurrence of symptoms or a deteriorating disease course after ECT at different time periods and to varying magnitudes.
Conclusion: Although decreased Y-BOCS scores were statistically significant and 77.7% of participants reported a positive response to ECT, limited long-term efficacy and adverse effects limit the effectiveness of ECT. Variable long-term effects were reported across all studies, highlighting the importance of assessing individual benefit-to-risk ratios. ECT may have greater benefit in those with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, possibly due to more severe courses and resistance to medications.
Disciplines
Behavioral Medicine | Medicine and Health Sciences | Mental Disorders | Other Rehabilitation and Therapy | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychiatry | Therapeutics
Included in
Behavioral Medicine Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Other Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons, Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychiatry Commons, Therapeutics Commons
The Role of ECT in OCD: A 10-Year Review (2014-2024)
Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects up to 2.5% of the population with significant impacts on everyday functioning and relationships. First-line treatment includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and cognitive behavioral therapy; however, studies have found that up to 40-60% of patients do not respond to SSRIs. ECT is an alternative approach that has demonstrated limited efficacy in OCD.
Objective: The current review aims to summarize the results of published work between 2014-2024 to assess the efficacy of ECT in the treatment of OCD.
Methods: A literature review was conducted using eight studies from 2014-2024 to assess the effectiveness of ECT in the treatment of OCD as measured by the Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y‐BOCS). ECT was administered adjunctively with medications, not as a standalone treatment.
Results: Y-BOCS scores decreased by an average of 16.75 after ECT treatment. 77.7% participants reported a positive response immediately after ECT. 13.3% reported side effects including headaches, memory disturbances, emesis and post-treatment agitation. 20% reported recurrence of symptoms or a deteriorating disease course after ECT at different time periods and to varying magnitudes.
Conclusion: Although decreased Y-BOCS scores were statistically significant and 77.7% of participants reported a positive response to ECT, limited long-term efficacy and adverse effects limit the effectiveness of ECT. Variable long-term effects were reported across all studies, highlighting the importance of assessing individual benefit-to-risk ratios. ECT may have greater benefit in those with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, possibly due to more severe courses and resistance to medications.
