Receipt of Electroconvulsive Therapy and Subsequent Development of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Cohort Study

Abstract

Overview

This study explores the potential hazards associated with the receipt of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and its link to the development of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). This investigation was conducted using a comprehensive sample from the U.S. Medicare health insurance program covering the years 1997 to 2017.

Findings

• The study utilized time-varying proportional hazard modeling to assess ALS occurrence in patients diagnosed with psychiatric conditions who underwent ECT in comparison to those who did not.
• Findings indicate a moderately increased, though imprecise, hazard ratio (HR) of 1.39 for ALS development post-ECT. Notably, a significant increase in the HR of ALS was observed in individuals receiving over ten ECT treatments (HR = 2.24), particularly among those older than 65 (HR = 3.03).
• No clear dose-response relationship was established through categorical analyses.

Conclusion

While the findings provide weak support for the theory that ECT might increase ALS risk, they underscore a need for further research in larger or more ECT-prevalent populations to either confirm or dispute this potential association.