Electroconvulsive therapy protocol adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Gil-Badenes, Joaquín; Valero, Ricard; Valentí, Marc; Macau, Elisabet; Bertrán, María Jesús; Claver, Gerard; Bioque, Miquel; Baeza, Inmaculada; Salvadó, Anna Bastidas; Mencía, María Lombraña; Pacchiarotti, Isabella; Bernardo, Miquel; Vieta, Eduard

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.051

Cited by 26 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Many centers worldwide also stopped ECT services with the pandemic's onset due to fear of causing the spread of COVID-19. Another major obstacle in providing ECT services was the shortage of anesthesiologists secondary to their deputation to intensive care units to treat sick patients who have tested positive for COVID ( Espinoza et al, 2020 ; Gil-Badenes et al, 2020 ). Due to the limited availability of ECT services, worsening of pre-existing psychiatric illnesses, including suicides, was recorded ( Vindegaard and Benros, 2020 ; Tor et al, 2020a , b ).…”

Section: Importance Of Continuing Ect During Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Screening includes a recent history of travel, exposure to suspected or diagnosed cases, and the presence of Covid-19 symptoms requiring Covid-19 RT-PCR testing from nasopharyngeal swab ( Burhan et al, 2020 ; Gil-Badenes et al, 2020 ; Lapid et al, 2020 ; Schumann et al, 2020 ). A few recommend baseline RT-PCR testing for all patients 1–2 days before the first ECT ( Bryson and Aloysi, 2020 ; Flexman et al, 2020 ; Sienaert et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Review Of Recommendations/suggestions For Ect Across the World During Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Electroconvulsive therapy services during COVID-19 pandemic

Surve

Sinha

Baliga

et al. 2021

Asian Journal of Psychiatry

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The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) services hard worldwide as it is considered an elective procedure and hence has been given less importance. Other reasons include the risk of transmission of infections, lack of resources, and the scarcity of anesthesiologists due to their diversion to intensive care units to manage COVID-19 patients. However, ECT is an urgent and life-saving measure for patients diagnosed with depression and other severe mental illnesses who have suicidality, catatonia, or require a rapid therapeutic response. COVID-19 pandemic is a significant source of stress for individuals due to its impact on health, employment, and social support resulting in new-onset psychiatric illnesses and the worsening of a pre-existing disorder. Hence, a continuation of the ECT services during the COVID-19 pandemic is of paramount importance. In this narrative review, the authors from India have compiled the literature on the ECT practice during the COVID-19 pandemic related to the screening and testing protocol, necessity of personal protective equipment, modification in ECT Suite, electrical stmulus settings, and anesthesia technique modification. The authors have also shared their experiences with the ECT services provided at their institute during this pandemic. This description will help other institutes to manage the ECT services uninterruptedly and make ECT a safe procedure during the current pandemic.

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Section: Importance Of Continuing Ect During Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Review Of Recommendations/suggestions For Ect Across the World During Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electroconvulsive therapy services during COVID-19 pandemic

Surve

Sinha

Baliga

et al. 2021

Asian Journal of Psychiatry

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“…At the peak of the pandemic, our hospital attended a total of 2778 in-patients with COVID-19 (312 in ICU). Psychiatric units were not unaffected: the child and adolescent acute psychiatric inpatient unit was converted into a COVID-19 hospitalization unit, while the adult psychiatric inpatient unit's admission capacity (of 24 beds) was reduced by 50%, and the day hospital was closed ( Pacchiarotti et al, 2020 ), leaving active only the electroconvulsive therapy section ( Gil-Badenes et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing trends in psychiatric emergency service admissions during the COVID-19 outbreak: Report from a worldwide epicentre

Gómez-Ramiro

Fico

Anmella

et al. 2021

Journal of Affective Disorders

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Highlights A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients admitted to the Psychiatric Emergency Service 90 days before and after March 14 th , 2020, the first day of lockdown in Spain due to COVID-19. During the lockdown the number of admissions decreased by 37.9% while a significant increase in the percentage of patients requiring acute psychiatric hospitalization was observed Anxiety spectrum disorders accumulated the greatest decrease in admission rates compared to the three months before lockdown. A statistically significant increase in admissions rates was found in patients with dementia-like cognitive impairments, autism spectrum, and substance use disorders during the lockdown

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“… 2 There has also been a reluctance to proceed with nonemergency ECT during the pandemic when it is otherwise indicated, and a number of patients in the middle of ECT courses were disrupted because of the onset of the pandemic. 3 There has been a concern about the potential risk to patients from cross-contamination within ECT departments, risk to staff from aerosol-generating procedures during ECT, and the redeployment of ECT teams, all contributing to limiting patient's access to treatment. 4 …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%