The Amnesic and Therapeutic Effects of Bilateral and Unilateral ECT

Abstract

A number of studies have appeared (4, 5, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 28, 31, 32) providing evidence suggesting that unilateral ECT admin istered to the non-dominant hemisphere produces less memory impairment than bilateral ECT. It was also concluded in those studies investigating the problem (i.e. all except 10, 14 and 31) that these two methods of treatment do not differ significantly in their therapeutic effects. Some of the studies included a group of patients receiving unilateral ECT to the dominant hemisphere, but the main emphasis in all has concerned differences between unilateral non-dominant and bilateral ECT.