Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Electroconvulsive therapy in Parkinsonian patients with the “on-off” syndrome

  • Short Communications
  • Published:
Journal of Neural Transmission Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Marked, abrupt and disabling oscillations in motor performance—the “on-off” phenomenon-frequently occur in the course of long-term levo-dopa therapy for Parkinson's disease. Although these fluctuations are usually refractory to available medications it has recently been suggested that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be beneficial.

Five Parkinsonian patients with incapacitating and unpredictable “on-off” changes who were free of significant depression were given conventional bilateral ECT while usual drug regimens were maintained. While ECT was well tolerated, after a total of six treatments no significant improvement in Parkinsonian disabilities or “on-off” changes were seen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Asnis, G. Parkinson's disease, depression and electroconvulsive therapy. American Journal of Psychiatry134, 191–195 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  • Balldin, J., Eden, S., Granerus, A.-K., Modigh, K., Svanborg, A., Walinder, J., Wallin, L. Electroconvulsive therapy in Parkinson's syndrome with “on-off” phenomenon. J. Neural Transm.47, 11–22 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dysken, M., Evans, H. M., Chan, C. H., Davis, J. M. Improvement of depression and parkinsonism during ECT. Neuropsychobiology2, 81–86 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fromm, G. H. Observations on the effect of electroshock treatment in patients with Parkinsonism. Bulletin of the Tulane University Medical Faculty18, 71–73 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lebensohn, Z. M., Jenkins, R. B. Improvement of parkinsonism in depressed patients with electroconvulsive therapy. American Journal of Psychiatry132, 283–285 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. C. Ward

    Present address: University College Hospital, London

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University College Hospital, London

    G. M. Stern, R. T. C. Pratt & Pat McKenna

  2. The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London, UK

    C. Ward, G. M. Stern, R. T. C. Pratt & Pat McKenna

Authors
  1. C. Ward
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. M. Stern
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. T. C. Pratt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Pat McKenna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ward, C., Stern, G.M., Pratt, R.T.C. et al. Electroconvulsive therapy in Parkinsonian patients with the “on-off” syndrome. J. Neural Transmission 49, 133–135 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01249195

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01249195

Keywords

Search

Navigation