The Use of Galantamine HBr (Reminyl) in Electroconvulsive Therapy: Impact on Mood and Cognitive Functioning

Inclusion Criteria:

• Criteria to enter the study include males and females between the ages of 18-90 (females must be post menopausal) and a DSM-IV diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder,Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features, Bipolar Disorder, depressed type,or Schizoaffective Disorder, depressed type (19).

Exclusion Criteria:

• DSM-IV diagnoses of dementia and its subtypes

• Substance use disorder (active use within the last 6 months)

• Organic mental disorders; seizure disorder

• Unstable physical disorder or physical disorder judged to significantly affect thecentral nervous system function

• A heart rate of <60

• A systolic blood pressure < 90

• Heart block

• Pre-existing sick-sinus

• Chronic treatment with beta blockers

• Any cardiac arrythmia

• Hypotension

• Coronary artery disease

• Liver and renal function impairment

• Urge incontinence, colitis Crohn's disease, GI motility disorders, asthma and COPD

• Treatment with anti-cholinergic and cholinomimetic medications; and

• Female patients who are pregnant.

• Additionally, women subjects must be postmenopausal, surgically sterile, or usingprescription oral contraceptives (e.g. estrogen-progestin combinations) ,contraceptive implants (e.g. NorplantTM, DepoProveraTM ), or transdermally deliveredcontraceptives (Ortho EvraTM) before entry and throughout the study; and have anegative serum b-HCG pregnancy test at screening. Note: Abstinence and the use of double barrier contraceptive methods are not acceptable inthis study.