Efficacy and Safety of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients With Deep Brain Stimulation

AIM: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has proven to be an effective therapy of some treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders and movement disorders. Comorbid depressive symptoms are common and difficult to manage. Treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be required. There are few published cases describing the safety and efficacy of ECT for patients with DBS implants, and there are no available guidelines for administration of ECT in patients with DBS and mood disorders. The current study had 3 aims: (i) to conduct a systematic review of case reports on patients with DBS implants who received ECT; (ii) to report the case of a 69-year-old man with a DBS implant for essential tremor, who required ECT; and (iii) to provide practical recommendations for ECT in patients with DBS implants. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review, in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, of existing case reports on patients with DBS implants administered ECT for psychiatric disorders. RESULTS: Our search yielded 25 cases of ECT in patients implanted with DBS systems. In addition, we here describe successful ECT management of major depressive disorder in a patient treated by DBS. We also set forth ECT management guidelines based on points of consensus. The 2 most important practical recommendations are to make sure the DBS system is set to 0 V and turned off before ECT, and to avoid sites near the DBS electrodes. CONCLUSIONS: Electroconvulsive therapy may be an effective and safe treatment for DBS patients with MDD.