Study of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Treatment for Agitation and Aggression in Dementia

Inclusion Criteria

• •Patients age 50 years or older from the Older Adult Unit of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services or Geriatric Unit at McLean Hospital
• •Diagnosis of Dementia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) Criteria
• •Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score of 16 or greater
• •Fluent in English
• •Presence of agitation/aggression symptoms as defined by a minimum aggression score on the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory Short Version (CMAI): a score of 4 or greater on at least one aggressive item, or a score of 3 on at least 2 aggressive items, or a score of 2 on at least 3 aggressive items, or 2 aggressive items occuring in frequency of 2 and 1 at frequency of 3.
• •A therapeutic decision will have already been made by the treating psychiatrist in consultation with the ECT team to use ECT treatment for agitation and aggression associated with dementia, with or without depression/mania. Patients will be included in the ECT treatment group if their legal representative consents to ECT treatment. Patients whose legal representative does not consent to ECT treatment will be included in the Standard Care (Non-ECT) treatment group.
• •Informed Consent signed by authorized legal guardian and assent given by the participant
• •Signed Authorization for Release of Healthcare Information by authorized legal guardian