The effects of electroconvulsive therapy and depression on confabulation, memory processing, and suggestibility

A prospective study was carried out to investigate the influence of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and depression on confabulation, verbal memory, and suggestibility. The subjects were 30 depressed patients with major depressive disorder as defined by DSM-IQ-R criteria, half of whom were treated with ECT, the other half with antidepressants only, and a control group of 15 healthy subjects. All participants were assessed with the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales (GSS), which measured confabulation, memory, and suggestibility. The patients were also assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Contrary to predictions, confabulation was significantly higher among the controls than patients during inpatient treatment, ECT-treated patients catching up with controls during convalescence. ECT but not depression had a significant effect on delayed recall at the end of the inpatient period. Neither ECT nor depression significantly affected suggestibility. A significant negative correlation was noted between age and confabulation.