Safe and effective use of electroconvulsive therapy during pregnancy: three-year-data from a training and research hospital

Objectives: The main objective of this study is to add to the available data on efficacy and safety of ECT use during pregnancy and to demonstrate ECT’s short-term effects on the newborns’ development.

Methods: In this study, medical records of 25 pregnant women, who were hospitalized in our psychiatry clinic and received ECT for their psychiatric disorders between 2010 and 2013, have been retrospectively reviewed. Data on newborn babies, with their parent’s permission was obtained from birth records.

Results: The mean age of patients was 28.24±5.22 years. The mean ±SD number of bilateral ECTs performed was 8.84±1.77. The mean Clinical Global Impression score before ECT was 5.68±0.74, whereas it was decreased to 2.08±0.86 after the ECT sessions. There were some minor maternal complications of ECT such as headache, pelvic pain, confusion and transient memory loss in descending order. All neonatal health indicators were within normal limits.

Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, ECT seems to be an effective and safe treatment option for treating major psychiatric disorders during pregnancy and it would be best to specify that the risks of maternal and fetal adverse events are low.