Initial seizure threshold of bilateral electroconvulsive therapy in Chinese.

BACKGROUND

This preliminary study examined the initial seizure threshold for bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Chinese and the correlates of this seizure threshold.

METHODS

Fifty-four patients underwent stimulus dose titration in a standardized protocol.

RESULTS

The mean initial seizure threshold was 117 mC (range 48-403 mC). Stepwise regression analysis showed that age, body mass index, and gender were independently related to seizure threshold and accounted for 36, 7, and 6% of its variance, respectively. Determination of a relationship between gender and seizure threshold was limited by the higher starting electrical dosage in men.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary study suggests that the seizure threshold for bilateral ECT in Chinese is comparable with that in the Western population. Our finding that body mass index is related to seizure threshold has not been reported previously. We also propose several differences between bilateral and unilateral ECT in the determinants of seizure threshold.