Dosing methods in electroconvulsive therapy: should the Scandinavian time-titration method be resumed?

Aim To describe and evaluate the different dosing methods in ECT, and bringing back into focus the Scandinavian time-titration method. Method A narrative, unsystematic, and selective review and discussion. Results There are five dosing methods: 1) The Scandinavian time-titration to tonic convulsion, using low-frequency pulses and a long maximal pulse train duration, was highly efficacious with right unilateral (RUL) ECT, comparable to bitemporal (BT) ECT. However, the device used went out of production in the 1990s. Because US devices until 1990 had a short maximal pulse train duration, time-titration went out of use. 2) Fixed high dosing at 50-100% of the device's maximal output, and 3) Formula-based dosing, initially the Age method, long prevailed in USA. Later, the Half-Age method was introduced for BT ECT. 4) Charge-dosing as a multiple of titrated seizure threshold (ST) demonstrated RUL and BT ECT to have comparable outcomes when dosed about six and two times the ST, respectively. 5) Dosing from benchmark is based on a high dose at the first session, to ensure a high peak heart rate and tonic-clonic convulsions. In later sessions the lowest dose producing similar outcomes is chosen. Conclusions No dosing method is documented superior to the others. Seizure threshold-based and benchmark dosing seems to be more accurate than fixed high and formula-based dosing. However, time-titration dosing makes it possible to adjust the dose at every session, and may be the most efficient method.

Automated summary

This article discusses different dosing methods in ECT, including the Scandinavian time-titration method, fixed high dosing, formula-based dosing, seizure threshold-based dosing, and benchmark dosing. The conclusions indicate that no dosing method is proven to be superior to others, but time-titration dosing may be the most efficient method.