Correlation between Post-Acute Electroconvulsive Therapy Alpha-Band Spectrum Power Increase and Improvement of Psychiatric Symptoms.

The results of quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) studies on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have been inconsistent, and indicators of the efficacy of ECT have not been clearly identified. In this study, we examined whether qEEG could be used as an indicator of the effect of ECT by measuring it during the course of treatment. We analyzed qEEG data before and after acute-phase ECT in 18 patients with schizophrenia, mood disorders, and other psychiatric disorders. We processed the qEEG data and compared the spectral power between the data acquired before and after ECT. The spectral power increased significantly after ECT in the delta, theta, and alpha bands. There was a strong significant correlation between the increase in the spectral power of the alpha band after acute ECT and improvement in the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale score. Our results suggest that an increase in the alpha-band spectral power may be useful as an objective indicator of the treatment effect of acute ECT.

[A case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) followed by pulmonary rehabilition].

We report a 75-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffering from cough, sputum, high-grade fever and dyspnea on effort. Her chest radiograph revealed an infiltrative shadow in the right lower lung field and her laboratory data showed marked inflammatory changes. Her arterial blood gas analysis showed marked hypoxemia and hypercapnia. After her laboratory data and general condition improved, we performed pulmonary rehabilitation for the patient for about 6 weeks. The program consisted of pursed lip breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, muscle stretch gymnastics, and walking. The 6-minute walking test distance increased from 170 m to 280 m. The minimum SpO2 during the 6-minute walking test increased from 88% to 91%. (O2 3 L/m) After discharge, she continued to receive home care from a visiting nurse specialized in respiratory medicine and 24 hour-monitoring of O2-compliance at home. She has not experienced acute exacerbation or re-hospitalization for 1 year. We conclude that home care service is effective to maintain stable conditions such as state of breathing, SpO2, vital signs, and activities of daily living for elderly COPD outpatients.