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A feasibility study of a new method for electrically producing seizures in man: focal electrically administered seizure therapy [FEAST].

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nahas, Z; Short, B; Burns, C; Archer, M; Schmidt, M; Prudic, J; Nobler, MS; Devanand, DP; Fitzsimons, L; Lisanby, SH; Payne, N; Perera, T ...
Published in: Brain Stimul
May 2013

BACKGROUND: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains the most effective acute treatment for severe major depression, but with significant risk of adverse cognitive effects. Unidirectional electrical stimulation with a novel electrode placement and geometry (Focal Electrically Administered Seizure Therapy (FEAST)) has been proposed as a means to initiate seizures in prefrontal cortex prior to secondary generalization. As such, it may have fewer cognitive side effects than traditional ECT. We report on its first human clinical application. METHOD: Seventeen unmedicated depressed adults (5 men; 3 bipolar disorder; age 53 ± 16 years) were recruited after being referred for ECT. Open-label FEAST was administered with a modified spECTrum 5000Q device and a traditional ECT dosing regimen until patients clinically responded. Clinical and cognitive assessments were obtained at baseline, and end of course. Time to orientation recovery, a predictor of long-term amnestic effects, was assessed at each treatment. Nonresponders to FEAST were transitioned to conventional ECT. RESULTS: One patient withdrew from the study after a single titration session. After the course of FEAST (median 10 sessions), there was a 46.1 ± 35.5% improvement in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD24) scores compared to baseline (33.1 ± 6.8, 16.8 ± 10.9; P < 0.0001). Eight of 16 patients met response criteria (50% decrease in HRSD24) and 5/16 met remission criteria (HRSD24 ≤ 10). Patients achieved full re-orientation (4 of 5 items) in 5.5 ± 6.4 min (median = 3.6), timed from when their eyes first opened after treatment. CONCLUSION: In this feasibility study, FEAST produced clinically meaningful antidepressant improvement, with relatively short time to reorientation. Our preliminary work first in primates and now depressed adults demonstrates that FEAST is feasible, safe, well-tolerated and, if efficacy can be optimized, has potential to replace traditional ECT.

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Published In

Brain Stimul

DOI

EISSN

1876-4754

Publication Date

May 2013

Volume

6

Issue

3

Start / End Page

403 / 408

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Seizures
  • Orientation
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Feasibility Studies
 

Citation

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Nahas, Z., Short, B., Burns, C., Archer, M., Schmidt, M., Prudic, J., … Sackeim, H. A. (2013). A feasibility study of a new method for electrically producing seizures in man: focal electrically administered seizure therapy [FEAST]. Brain Stimul, 6(3), 403–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2013.03.004
Nahas, Ziad, Baron Short, Carol Burns, Melanie Archer, Matthew Schmidt, Joan Prudic, Mitchell S. Nobler, et al. “A feasibility study of a new method for electrically producing seizures in man: focal electrically administered seizure therapy [FEAST].Brain Stimul 6, no. 3 (May 2013): 403–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2013.03.004.
Nahas Z, Short B, Burns C, Archer M, Schmidt M, Prudic J, et al. A feasibility study of a new method for electrically producing seizures in man: focal electrically administered seizure therapy [FEAST]. Brain Stimul. 2013 May;6(3):403–8.
Nahas, Ziad, et al. “A feasibility study of a new method for electrically producing seizures in man: focal electrically administered seizure therapy [FEAST].Brain Stimul, vol. 6, no. 3, May 2013, pp. 403–08. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.brs.2013.03.004.
Nahas Z, Short B, Burns C, Archer M, Schmidt M, Prudic J, Nobler MS, Devanand DP, Fitzsimons L, Lisanby SH, Payne N, Perera T, George MS, Sackeim HA. A feasibility study of a new method for electrically producing seizures in man: focal electrically administered seizure therapy [FEAST]. Brain Stimul. 2013 May;6(3):403–408.
Journal cover image

Published In

Brain Stimul

DOI

EISSN

1876-4754

Publication Date

May 2013

Volume

6

Issue

3

Start / End Page

403 / 408

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Seizures
  • Orientation
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Feasibility Studies