The effect of psychotropic medication on seizure duration during bilateral electroconvulsive therapy: a retrospective study

A five-year retrospective study investigating the effects of psychotropic medication on first seizure length was undertaken on 109 patients who received 131 courses of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Bilateral ECT was administered under methohexitone anaesthesia. Induction of a seizure was successful in 105 patients. Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that except for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) seizure length was not affected by psychotropic medication, SSRIs were associated with prolonged seizure length (p=0.0012). Less than one-third of the subjects had drugs with anticonvulsant properties omitted before treatment. Drugs with anticonvulsant properties did not shorten seizure length. Though this study suggests that SSRIs may prolong fit length, further clarification of the predictors for seizure duration is required.