The Effects of Dominant and Nondominant Unilateral ECT as Compared to Bilateral ECT
J. MCANDREW M.D.1,
B. BERKEY 2, , and
C. MATTHEWS PH.D.3
1 Staff Psychiatrist, Children's Unit, Winnebago State Hospital, Box H, Winnebago, Wis. 54985
2 Kenner Army Hospital, Fort Lee, Va.
3 University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wis.
Electroconvulsive treatments were administered to 24 patients, each receiving one of three variations of electrode placement—dominant hemisphere, nondominant hemisphere, or bilateral. A battery of psychological tests administered to each patient before and after ECT revealed findings that fail to support previous investigations indicating that unilateral electrode placement results in fewer or less severe organic side effects than does bilateral electrode placement.
