Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41770312›Full record

Trial reportEuropean archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience2026

Electroconvulsive therapy induces rapid microstructural and macrostructural changes, but microstructural changes are longer-lasting.

Joey P A J Verdijk, Julia C M Pottkämper, Freek Ten Doesschate, Laurens A van de Mortel, Sven Stuiver, Leif Oltedal, Paul J Lucassen, Esmee Verwijk, Michel J A M van Putten, Jeannette Hofmeijer and 2 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04028596 (StudY of Effect of Nimodipine and Acetaminophen on Postictal Symptoms After ECT), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04028596 phase2completednot on this map

StudY of Effect of Nimodipine and Acetaminophen on Postictal Symptoms After ECT

TypeinterventionalSponsorRijnstate HospitalRan2019 to 2023Enrolled34ConditionsEpilepsy, Depression, Postictal Delirium, Electroconvulsive TherapyArmsParacetamol, Nimotop
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Joey P A J VerdijkDepartment of Psychiatry, Rijnstate Hospital , P.O. Box 9555, 6800 TA, Arnhem, The Netherlands. j.p.a.j.verdijk@utwente.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5415-3940
Julia C M PottkämperDepartment of Psychiatry, Rijnstate Hospital , P.O. Box 9555, 6800 TA, Arnhem, The Netherlands.
Freek Ten DoesschateDepartment of Psychiatry, Rijnstate Hospital , P.O. Box 9555, 6800 TA, Arnhem, The Netherlands.
Laurens A van de MortelDepartment of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Sven StuiverDepartment of Psychiatry, Rijnstate Hospital , P.O. Box 9555, 6800 TA, Arnhem, The Netherlands.
Leif OltedalDepartment of Radiology, Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Center, Haukeland University Hospital , Bergen, Norway.
Paul J LucassenBrain Plasticity Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Esmee VerwijkDepartment of Psychology, Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Michel J A M van PuttenDepartment of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Twente , Enschede, The Netherlands.
Jeannette HofmeijerDepartment of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Twente , Enschede, The Netherlands.
Guido van WingenDepartment of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jeroen A van WaardeDepartment of Psychiatry, Rijnstate Hospital , P.O. Box 9555, 6800 TA, Arnhem, The Netherlands.

Funding

Epilepsiefonds WAR 19-02
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for major depressive episodes, though its mechanisms remain unclear. Its use is limited by stigma and potential cognitive side-effects. Repeated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may provide further insights into brain changes related to ECT’s efficacy and cognitive outcomes.

methodsWe analyzed cognitive, efficacy, and MRI data from depressed patients undergoing ECT in two prospective longitudinal trials (NCT04028596, NL-OMON43040), using 26 matched healthy controls (2020-BC-12375) to control for test-retest effects. All participants were scanned on the same MRI system. Structural and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans were acquired at baseline, after the initial ECT sessions, within two weeks post-treatment, and at three-month follow-up. Linear and nonlinear changes in grey matter (GM) volume, white matter (WM) volume, mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) were assessed. Early brain changes were examined in relation to clinical outcomes.

resultsAfter the 3rd ECT session (n = 19), subcortical GM volume increased with a right-lateralized MD decrease. Two weeks post-ECT (n = 30), cortical GM volume increased, returning to baseline by three months. In WM, MD increased linearly post-ECT and remained elevated at follow-up, with no widespread FA changes (n = 30). ECT transiently impaired verbal learning (n = 23, pbonferroni = 0.04), letter fluency (n = 22, pbonferroni = 0.04), and animal fluency (n = 62, pbonferroni = 0.02). Early brain changes were not associated with cognitive or efficacy outcomes.

conclusionsThese results suggest that ECT induces rapid changes in brain macrostructure and microstructure. While macrostructural increases are temporary, microstructural changes in brain structure are longer-lasting.

Indexed as

Electroconvulsive TherapyGray MatterMajor Depressive DisorderOutcome Assessment, Health CareWhite MatterAdultAgedDiffusion Tensor ImagingFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedTime FactorsCognitive side-effectsDiffusion tensor imagingElectroconvulsive therapyMajor depressionNeuroplasticity

Identifiers

PMID41770312
PMCPMC13234036

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.