Abstract | BACKGROUND: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an important therapy for treatment-resistant depression and is especially effective for elderly individuals with depression. This is the first US nationally representative description of ECT in the elderly. METHODS: Using 2014-2015 Medicare claims data, we compared elderly individuals with major depressive disorder (using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes) who received ECT with those who did not on demographic and clinical measures. We characterized treatment patterns by setting and the proportion of individuals receiving index and continuation/maintenance courses, subtherapeutic courses of ECT, and post-ECT follow-up care. RESULTS: Of all Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older diagnosed with depression in 2014-2015, 7,817 (0.41%) received 1 or more ECT sessions. Compared to the general population of elderly Medicare beneficiaries with depression, recipients of ECT were slightly younger and more likely to be male, non-Hispanic, and white and live in a zip code with a higher median income. Among those who received any ECT, 33.7% received < 5 total treatments. Of those who received an index ECT treatment, 33.7% received a continuation/maintenance course of ECT, while 60.9% received some form of post-ECT follow-up treatment (additional ECT or new psychotropic medication). Receipt of psychotherapy was the strongest predictor of those who received ≥ 5 ECT treatments (adjusted odds ratio = 1.43; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.67). CONCLUSIONS: Despite substantial evidence of efficacy, ECT use remains rare among elderly patients with depression. Findings suggest a potential need for efforts to increase the proportion of patients receiving adequate courses of ECT and evidence-based post-ECT follow-up care.
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Authors | Taeho Greg Rhee, Mark Olfson, Kyaw Sint, Samuel T Wilkinson |
Journal | The Journal of clinical psychiatry
(J Clin Psychiatry)
Vol. 81
Issue 4
(07 07 2020)
ISSN: 1555-2101 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 32659875
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Copyright | © Copyright 2020 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc. |
Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Age Factors
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Databases, Factual
- Depressive Disorder, Major
(therapy)
- Electroconvulsive Therapy
(standards)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Medicare
(statistics & numerical data)
- Psychotropic Drugs
(therapeutic use)
- Sex Factors
- Treatment Outcome
- United States
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