The authors compared the treatment outcomes and ECT energy requirements
of 10 patients treated with the Muller unilateral placement method
(secondary electrode in the frontal position) with those of 10 matched
patients treated with the unilateral placement described by d'Elia
(secondary electrode lateral to the vertex). Both groups showed a similar
dramatic clinical improvement after ECT; however, the mean watt seconds
required for the Muller method was nearly four times that for the d'Elia
procedure. The treating physicians reported that the patients treated by
the d'Elia method had fewer anterograde and retrograde memory disturbances
and that they were alert and oriented sooner after ECT.Abstract Teaser