Clonidine to Prevent Postictal Delirium After ElectroConvulsive Therapy: a Randomised, Placebo-controlled, Triple-blind, Single-centre Trial.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective treatment for some psychiatric disorders like major depressive or bipolar disorder, but may lead to agitation and delirium after the procedure in up to 65% of patients. This can have negative side effects and be dangerous for patient and attending staff. Clonidine, a central-acting alpha2-receptor agonist, is an approved antihypertensive medication with known sedative side effects. Clonidine's newer but more expensive successor, dexmedetomidine, has recently shown its potential to reduce this kind of delirium. The investigators therefore hypothesise that pre-treatment with 2 mcg/kg clonidine prior to electroconvulsive therapy will significantly reduce the incidence of postictal delirium. This potentially makes a highly efficient treatment for patients with otherwise refractory psychiatric illness safer and more accessible.
• Aged 18 and more;
• Scheduled for an elective series of ambulatory ECT sessions at the University Hospital Bern;
• Informed Consent as documented by signature (Appendix Informed Consent Form).