ArticleWorld journal of psychiatry2023
Treatment outcomes and cognitive function following electroconvulsive therapy in patients with severe depression.
Article in World journal of psychiatry, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy and Safety ofNutrients · 2024Trial
- Exploring the impact of cognitive profiles on the response to magnetic seizure therapy and electroconvulsive therapy.Molecular psychiatry · 2026Article
- Immune-inflammatory, neuroplastic, and epigenetic effects of electroconvulsive therapy in mood disorders: an overview of recent studies.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Review
- Electroconvulsive Therapy Regulates the Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity of the Dorsomedial Prefrontal Cortex in Depressive Patients: Evidence from 2 Independent Samples.Actas espanolas de psiquiatria · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
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Abstract
backgroundTraditional treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), including medication and therapy, often fail and have undesirable side effects. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) uses electrical currents to induce brief seizures in the brain, resulting in rapid and potent antidepressant effects. However, owing to misconceptions and controversies, ECT is not as widely used as it could and often faces stigmatization.
aimTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of ECT compared to those of medication and/or therapy in patients with severe MDD.
methodsThis prospective cohort study included 220 individuals with severe MDD who were divided into the ECT and non-ECT groups. The patients in the ECT group underwent bilateral ECT three times a wk until they either achieved remission or reached a maximum of 12 sessions. The non-ECT group received medication and/or therapy according to clinical guidelines for MDD. The primary outcome was the variation in the hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) score from treatment/ECT initiation to week 12. In addition, patients' quality of life, cognitive abilities, and biomarkers were measured throughout the study.
resultsAlthough both groups showed significant improvements in their HDRS scores over time, the improvement was more pronounced in the ECT group than in the non-ECT group. Additionally, the ECT group exhibited a more substantial improvement in the quality of life and cognitive function than those of the non-ECT group. Compared with the non-ECT group, the ECT group exhibited evi-dently lower variations in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. The side effects were generally mild and comparable between the two groups. ECT is safer and more potent than medication and/or therapy in mitigating depressive symptoms, enhancing well-being, and bolstering cognitive capabilities in individuals with severe MDD. ECT may also affect the levels of BDNF and IL-6, which are indicators of neuroplasticity and inflammation, respectively.
conclusionECT has emerged as a potentially advantageous therapeutic approach for patients with MDD who are unresponsive to alternative treatments.
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