Using Thiamine to reduce post-ECT Confusion

Plain English Summary:

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a useful therapy for various mental illnesses, however many patients who have had ECT report cognitive side effects. There have been many efforts to adjust the ECT to minimize the side effects, but they have not been very successful. Thiamine, or B1, is a pharmacological treatment that has now been researched as a way to help with this problem. Many elderly patients who have undergone ECT for depression have used thiamine supplements and reported a decrease in the confusional state after ECT treatments. The use of thiamine supplements then is a good alternative therapy to aid in the cognitive decline after ECT, and they do not have the adverse side effects of other treatments.