Validity and reliability study of the ECT-BD (Cognitive Evaluation of Electroconvulsive Therapy) scale in patients undergoing ECT

Objective: This study; aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Electroconvulsive Therapy Cognitive Assessment (ECT-BD) scale in Turkish which is designed to evaluate and follow up the ECT induced cognitive disorders in patients undergoing ECT. Materials and Methods: Sixty participants were enrolled. 30 patients who were admitted and hospitalized in Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit Research and Practice Hospital Mental Health and Diseases Clinic due to any mental illness to receive ECT (Electroconvulsive therapy) were included in this study. Thirty demographically comparable healthy participants were enrolled. Both groups were matched for age and gender. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Electroconvulsive Therapy Cognitive Assessment (ECT-BD) were administered to participants in healthy control group at two different time; first at the application time and second 7-10 days after first application. The patients undergoing ECT were evaluated with Clinical Global Impression (CGI), MoCA and ECT-BD scales at three time points; pre- ECT (T0) , depending on the patient's recovery status before 4th to 6th ECT session (T1) and post-ECT, 7-10 days after the last session (T2). The correlation between variables was evaluated with Spearman correlation analysis. Results: A significant difference was detected in terms of MoCA and ECT-BD total scores at T0, T1 and T2.(P<0.001) Improvement was found in both MoCA and ECT-BD scores (total and subscales) at T2. Additionally, the total scores of the MoCA and ECT-BD scales and the executive processing, attention and orientation subscales show correlations at T2. Conclusion: The ECT-BD scale designed in our study shows correlations with the MoCA scale in assessing cognitive status and also evaluates autobiographical memory affected by ECT. In the light of the results we obtained, it is thought that the ECT-BD scale can be used to measure ECT induced cognitive changes. Key words: Electroconvulsive therapy, Cognitive impairment, MoCA, EKT-BD, ECT