The Randt Memory Test in electroconvulsive therapy: Relation to illness and treatment parameters

We used the Randt Memory Test (RMT) to examine the effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on memory in 23 depressed patients. Immediate recall was unaffected by ECT, but delayed recall was reduced 48-72 h following reorientation after ECT. These changes were not correlated with the total seizure time or with the dose of electrical energy. Most patients rated their memory as improved after ECT on the Squire Subjective Memory Questionnaire. Improvement in mood, as reflected in behavior scales, was correlated with the subjective perception of memory performance, but not with the objective performance on the RMT. Improvement in depressive mood is independent of changes in performance on tests of memory. The RMT is a convenient and useful instrument to monitor the memory effects of ECT.