Vascular depression with melancholic symptoms: response to electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract

The concept of vascular depression includes cases of late-onset depression, with cerebral infarction observed in imaging modalities and cardiovascular risk factors, with cognitive disabilities and poor response to antidepressant drugs. A case of a 71 year-old woman with no psychiatric background and with vascular risk factors who was re-admitted to a psychiatric hospitalization unit for melancholic depression with psychotic symptoms is presented. The magnetic resonance imaging showed a subcortical lacunar lesion and mild leukoaraiosis lesions and the neuropsychological examinations showed mild cognitive impairments. In the previous admissions the symptoms were refractory to several psychopharmacology strategies, responding only to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In this admission she received ECT, with remission of the symptoms, and was included in an ECT maintenance program. The vascular depression concept would explain the special features and outcome of this case.