Prediction of electroconvulsive therapy response and remission in major depression: meta-analysis

Electroconvulsive therapy for depression: 80 years of progress

Electroconvulsive therapy is the most effective treatment for severe, psychotic or treatment-resistant depression. However, its effectiveness continues to be questioned, both in mainstream media and narratives within the scientific literature. In this analysis, we use an evidence-based approach to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of modern electroconvulsive therapy.

Can the Addition of Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy to Pharmacotherapy Improve Relapse Prevention in Severe Major Depressive Disorder? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Few systematic evaluations have been performed of the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a relapse prevention strategy in major depressive disorder (MDD). This is a single-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy and tolerability of pharmacotherapy plus maintenance ECT (M-Pharm/ECT) versus pharmacotherapy alone (M-Pharm) in the prevention of MDD relapse. Subjects with MDD who had remitted with bilateral acute ECT (n = 37) were randomly assigned to receive M-Pharm/ECT (n = 19, 14 treatments) or M-Pharm (n = 18) for nine months. The subjects were followed up for 15 months. The main outcome was relapse of depression, defined as a score of 18 or more on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. At nine months, 35% of the subjects treated with M-Pharm/ECT relapsed as compared with 61% of the patients treated with M-Pharm. No statistically significant differences between groups were indicated by either Kaplan–Meier or Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. The subjects without psychotic features were at higher risk of relapse. There were no statistically significant differences in the MMSE scores of the two groups at the end of the study. Further studies are needed to better define the indications for M-ECT in order to improve its efficacy as a relapse prevention strategy.

Genome-wide study of key genes and scoring system as potential noninvasive biomarkers for detection of suicide behavior in major depression disorder

Although some progress has been made in the molecular biological detection of major depression disorder (MDD), its specificity and accuracy are still insufficient. This study is aimed to find hub genes, which could contribute to MDD related suicide and provide potential therapeutic targets for diagnosis and treatment. We downloaded RNA expression and clinical information from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Dataset. Then, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to find core modules. Logistic regression was performed to identify the independent risk factors, and a scoring system was constructed based on these independent risk factors. As a result, a total of 16487 genes were selected to further conducted WGCNA analysis. We found that tan and green functional modules were exhibited high correlation with suicide behavior. 309 genes were identified in tan modules that were the strongest positively correlated with suicide behavior. Functional analysis in tan module indicated that activation of enzymes including nitric-oxide synthase and endoribonuclease, estrogen signaling pathway, glucagon signaling pathway, and legionellosis pathway were most enriched in MDD. Furthermore, we applied protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis to select the hub genes and 10 genes were found in the core area of network. Then, we identified three-gene base independent risk signature by logistic regression model, including HSPA1A, RASEF, TBC1D8B. In conclusion, our study suggests that the tan module genes are closely related to suicide behaviors, which is mainly caused by multiple signaling pathway activation. The three-genes-based signature could provide a better efficacy to predict suicidal behavior in MDD patients.

Neural Substrates of Psychotic Depression: Findings From the Global ECT-MRI Research Collaboration

Psychotic major depression (PMD) is hypothesized to be a distinct clinical entity from nonpsychotic major depression (NPMD). However, neurobiological evidence supporting this notion is scarce. The aim of this study is to identify gray matter volume (GMV) differences between PMD and NPMD and their longitudinal change following electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 8 independent sites in the Global ECT-MRI Research Collaboration (GEMRIC) database (n = 108; 56 PMD and 52 NPMD; mean age 71.7 in PMD and 70.2 in NPMD) were analyzed. All participants underwent MRI before and after ECT. First, cross-sectional whole-brain voxel-wise GMV comparisons between PMD and NPMD were conducted at both time points. Second, in a flexible factorial model, a main effect of time and a group-by-time interaction were examined to identify longitudinal effects of ECT on GMV and longitudinal differential effects of ECT between PMD and NPMD, respectively. Compared with NPMD, PMD showed lower GMV in the prefrontal, temporal and parietal cortex before ECT; PMD showed lower GMV in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) after ECT. Although there was a significant main effect of time on GMV in several brain regions in both PMD and NPMD, there was no significant group-by-time interaction. Lower GMV in the MPFC was consistently identified in PMD, suggesting this may be a trait-like neural substrate of PMD. Longitudinal effect of ECT on GMV may not explain superior ECT response in PMD, and further investigation is needed.

Dynamic time warp analysis of individual symptom trajectories in depressed patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy

BACKGROUND

Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) effectively improves severity scores of depression, its effects on its individual symptoms has scarcely been studied. We aimed to study which depressive symptom trajectories dynamically cluster together in individuals as well as groups of patients during ECT using Dynamic Time Warp (DTW) analysis.

METHODS

We analysed the standardized weekly scores on the 25-item abbreviated version of the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS) in depressed patients before and during their first six weeks of ECT treatment. DTW analysis was used to analyse the (dis)similarity of time series of items scores at the patient level (300 'DTW distances' per patient) as well as on the group level. Hierarchical cluster, network, and Distatis analyses yielded symptom dimensions.

RESULTS

We included 133 patients, 64.7% female, with an average age of 60.4 years (SD 15.1). Individual DTW distance matrices and networks revealed marked differences in hierarchical and network clusters among patients. Based on cluster analyses of the aggregated matrices, four symptom clusters emerged. In patients who reached remission, the average DTW distance between their symptoms was significantly smaller than non-remitters, reflecting denser symptom networks in remitters than non-remitters (p=0.04).

LIMITATIONS

The assessments were done only weekly during the first six weeks of ECT treatment. The use of individual items of the abbreviated CPRS may have led to measurement error as well as floor and ceiling effects.

CONCLUSION

DTW offers an efficient new approach to analyse symptom trajectories within individuals as well as groups of patients, aiding personalized medicine of psychopathology.

High exposure to pharmacological treatments is associated with limited efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy in bipolar depression

Episode chronicity and medication failure are considered robust predictors of poor response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In this study we explored the associations between indexes of drug exposure during current episode and outcomes of ECT in 168 bipolar depressive patients. The association between response or remission and number of previous pharmacological trials, failure of treatment with antidepressants, antipsychotics or combinations, and sum of maximum Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF) scores obtained in each pharmacological class were tested. 98 patients (58%) were considered responders and 21 remitters (13%). Number of trials, number of adequate trials, ATHF sum, antidepressant-antipsychotic combination therapy failure and failure of two adequate trials were significantly negatively associated with remission. The association with ATHF sum stayed significant when controlling for episode duration and manic symptoms and survived stepwise model selection. No significant associations with response were identified. In conclusion, a history of multiple drug treatments may be linked to a greater resistance to all types of therapies, including ECT. However, we could not exclude that, at least in some patients, a prolonged exposure to pharmacological treatments may be responsible for a greater chronicity and for the presence of residual symptoms, which would explain reduced remission after ECT.

Relapse following bitemporal and high-dose right unilateral electroconvulsive therapy for major depression

OBJECTIVE

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective acute treatment for severe and/or medication-resistant depression but maintaining remission following completion of a course remains a clinical challenge.

METHODS

EFFECT-Dep Trial (ISRCTN23577151) participants with a DSM-IV major depressive episode who met remission criteria after a randomly assigned course of twice-weekly brief-pulse bitemporal (1.5 × seizure threshold) or high-dose (6 × seizure threshold) right unilateral ECT were monitored for relapse for 12 months. In line with the pragmatic trial design, all patients received treatment-as-usual individualised pharmacotherapy during and after ECT; no remitter received continuation ECT.

RESULTS

Of 61 remitters, 24 (39.3%) relapsed, one (1.6%) withdrew from the study while in remission and the remaining 36 (59.0%) stayed well for a year. Most relapses occurred within the first six months, resulting in a cumulative six-month relapse rate of 31.1%. In a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model, older age (p = 0.039) and psychotic features at pre-ECT baseline (p = 0.037) were associated with a more favourable long-term prognosis while a greater number of previous depressive episodes (p = 0.028) and bipolar II (but not bipolar I) diagnosis (p = 0.030) were associated with a worse long-term outcome. Electrode placement and medication resistance prior to ECT had no effect on relapse. Adjusting for covariates, fewer patients treated with lithium relapsed in the overall group (p = 0.008) and in the unipolar depression subgroup (p = 0.027).

CONCLUSION

Long-term outcome following high-dose right unilateral ECT does not differ from bitemporal ECT. Prognosis is particularly favourable in older adults, psychotic depression and patients maintained on lithium.

Response rate and subjective memory after electroconvulsive therapy in depressive disorders with psychiatric comorbidity

BACKGROUND

Response rates after and tolerability of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in depressive disorders with psychiatric comorbidity are uncertain.

METHODS

Data on patients with a depressive episode and a first course of ECT were collected from the Swedish National Quality Register for ECT. Logistic regression analyses, adjusted for gender, age, and depressive episode severity, were used to compare patients with and without comorbidity. The clinical response assessment Clinical Global Impression - Improvement Scale was used in 4413 patients and the memory item from the Comprehensive Psychiatric Rating Scale was used for subjective memory impairment rating after ECT in 3497 patients.

RESULTS

In patients with depressive disorder and comorbid personality disorder or anxiety disorder, 62.7% and 73.5%, respectively, responded after ECT compared with 84.9% in patients without comorbidity [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34-0.55, and aOR 0.61, 95% CI 0.51-0.73, respectively]. The proportion of responding patients with comorbid alcohol use disorder was 77.1%, which was not significantly different from that in patients without comorbidity (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57-1.01). The impact of comorbidity decreased with higher age and depressive episode severity. Subjective ratings of memory impairment did not differ between patients with and without comorbidity.

LIMITATIONS

Observational non-validated clinical data.

CONCLUSIONS

The response rate after ECT in depression may be lower with concurrent personality disorder and anxiety disorder; however, the majority still respond to ECT. This implies that psychiatric comorbidity should not exclude patients from ECT.

Electroconvulsive Therapy for Patients With Depression Who Lack Capacity for Consent: Doing Good and Doing No Harm

OBJECTIVE

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is provided in real-world clinical settings for patients lacking capacity for consent. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and clinical effectiveness of ECT in this population.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted to collect data from patients who received ECT to treat their depressive episodes between April 2012 and March 2019. Differences in clinical characteristics and short-/long-term clinical outcomes between patients who received ECT with their relatives' consent and patients who received ECT by their own consent were examined. The short-/long-term clinical outcomes were determined by clinical global impression scores and readmission rate, respectively.

RESULTS

Of 168 patients with depressive episodes, 34 (20.2%) received ECT with their relatives' consent. Those patients were older, had lower body mass index, and had shorter episode duration. They also exhibited more frequent psychotic, melancholic, and catatonic features. The main indication for ECT in this population was the need for rapid recovery. Patients lacking capacity for consent showed similar remission (61.8%) and response (82.4%) rates to those with capacity for consent. Readmission rate was not significantly different between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

There were no significant differences in short-/long-term ECT effectiveness between patients with/without capacity for consent. Electroconvulsive therapy is the only established and effective treatment in clinical settings for the most severe cases, wherein patients are incapable of giving consent but need rapid recovery. A general rejection of this practice due to concerns surrounding consent may be unethical under the ethical principles of medical care.

Association of electroconvulsive therapy-induced structural plasticity with clinical remission

BACKGROUND

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for severe depression. Recent neuroimaging studies have consistently reported that ECT induces volume increases in widely distributed brain regions. However, it still remains unclear about ECT-induced volume changes associated with clinical improvement.

METHODS

Longitudinal assessments of structural magnetic resonance imaging were conducted in 48 participants. Twenty-seven elderly melancholic depressed individuals (mean 67.5 ± 8.1 years old; 19 female) were scanned before (TP1) and after (TP2) ECT. Twenty-one healthy controls were also scanned twice. Whole-brain gray matter volume (GMV) was analyzed via group (remitters, nonremitters, and controls) by time (TP1 and TP2) analysis of covariance to identify ECT-related GMV changes and GMV changes specific to remitters. Within-subject and between-subjects correlation analyses were conducted to investigate the associations between clinical improvement and GMV changes. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and remission was defined as HAM-D total score ≤ 7.

RESULTS

Bilateral ECT increased GMV in multiple brain regions bilaterally regardless of clinical improvement. Remitters showed a larger GMV increase in the right-lateralized frontolimbic brain regions compared to nonremitters and healthy controls. GMV changes in the right hippocampus/amygdala and right middle frontal gyrus showed correlations with clinical improvement in within-/between-subjects correlation analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

ECT-induced GMV increase in the right frontolimbic regions was associated with clinical remission.

Accounting for symptom heterogeneity can improve neuroimaging models of antidepressant response after electroconvulsive therapy

Depression symptom heterogeneity limits the identifiability of treatment‐response biomarkers. Whether improvement along dimensions of depressive symptoms relates to separable neural networks remains poorly understood. We build on work describing three latent symptom dimensions within the 17‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and use data‐driven methods to relate multivariate patterns of patient clinical, demographic, and brain structural changes over electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to dimensional changes in depressive symptoms. We included 110 ECT patients from Global ECT‐MRI Research Collaboration (GEMRIC) sites who underwent structural MRI and HDRS assessments before and after treatment. Cross validated random forest regression models predicted change along symptom dimensions. HDRS symptoms clustered into dimensions of somatic disturbances (SoD), core mood and anhedonia (CMA), and insomnia. The coefficient of determination between predicted and actual changes were 22%, 39%, and 39% (all p < .01) for SoD, CMA, and insomnia, respectively. CMA and insomnia change were predicted more accurately than HDRS‐6 and HDRS‐17 changes (p < .05). Pretreatment symptoms, body‐mass index, and age were important predictors. Important imaging predictors included the right transverse temporal gyrus and left frontal pole for the SoD dimension; right transverse temporal gyrus and right rostral middle frontal gyrus for the CMA dimension; and right superior parietal lobule and left accumbens for the insomnia dimension. Our findings support that recovery along depressive symptom dimensions is predicted more accurately than HDRS total scores and are related to unique and overlapping patterns of clinical and demographic data and volumetric changes in brain regions related to depression and near ECT electrodes.

Biophysical mechanisms of electroconvulsive therapy-induced volume expansion in the medial temporal lobe: A longitudinal in vivo human imaging study

Background:

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) applies electric currents to the brain to induce seizures for therapeutic purposes. ECT increases gray matter (GM) volume, predominantly in the medial temporal lobe (MTL). The contribution of induced seizures to this volume change remains unclear.

Methods:

T1-weighted structural MRI was acquired from thirty patients with late-life depression (mean age 72.5 ± 7.9 years, 19 female), before and one week after one course of right unilateral ECT. Whole brain voxel-/deformation-/surface-based morphometry analyses were conducted to identify tissue-specific (GM, white matter: WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cerebral morphometry changes following ECT. Whole-brain voxel-wise electric field (EF) strength was estimated to investigate the association of EF distribution and regional brain volume change. The association between percentage volume change in the right MTL and ECT-related parameters (seizure duration, EF, and number of ECT sessions) was investigated using multiple regression.

Results:

ECT induced widespread GM volume expansion with corresponding contraction in adjacent CSF compartments, and limited WM change. The regional EF was strongly correlated with the distance from the electrodes, but not with regional volume change. The largest volume expansion was identified in the right MTL, and this was correlated with the total seizure duration.

Conclusions:

Right unilateral ECT induces widespread, bilateral regional volume expansion and contraction, with the largest change in the right MTL. This dynamic volume change cannot be explained by the effect of electrical stimulation alone and is related to the cumulative effect of ECT-induced seizures.

Electroconvulsive Therapy and Age: Effectiveness, Safety and Tolerability in the Treatment of Major Depression among Patients under and over 65 Years of Age

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains the most effective therapy in treatment-resistant depression. However, the safety of ECT has been consistently questioned, particularly among elderly patients. We assessed the efficacy and safety of ECT in patients before and after 65 years old. The study was conducted between 2015 and 2018 and included 91 patients (61 under and 29 over 65 years old) with major depression undergoing ECT. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was used to evaluate efficacy. Cognitive functions were assessed using: MMSE, RAVLT, Trail Making Test, Stroop Test and Autobiographical Memory Interview-Short Form. ECT was more effective in older patients as compared to younger (p < 0.001). No serious adverse events were observed in either group. Increased blood pressure and arrhythmias were more common in the older compared to the younger group (p = 0.044 and p = 0.047, respectively), while disturbances of consciousness did not differ between groups (p = 0.820). Most of the cognitive functions remained unchanged compared to baseline, whereas the outcomes of MMSE, RAVLT and Stroop tests showed greater improvements in the older compared to the younger group (all p < 0.05). The decline in the retrieval consistency of autobiographical memory was more pronounced in the younger group (p = 0.024). ECT is a highly effective, safe and well-tolerated method of treating depression regardless of age.

Meta-analysis of brain structural changes after electroconvulsive therapy in depression

BACKGROUND

Increases in the volume of the amygdala and hippocampus after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are among the most robust effects known to the brain-imaging field. Recent advances in the segmentation of substructures of these regions allow for novel insights on the relationship between brain structure and clinical outcomes of ECT.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to provide a comprehensive synthesis of evidence available on changes in brain structure after ECT, including recently published data on hippocampal subfields.

METHODS

A meta-analysis of published studies was carried out using random-effects models of standardized mean change of regional brain volumes measured with longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging of depressive patients before and after a series of ECT.

RESULTS

Data from 21 studies (543 depressed patients) were analysed, including 6 studies (118 patients) on hippocampal subfields. Meta-analyses could be carried out for seven brain regions for which data from at least three published studies was available. We observed increases in left and right hippocampi, amygdalae, cornua ammonis (CA) 1, CA 2/3, dentate gyri (DG) and subicula with standardized mean change scores ranging between 0.34 and 1.15. The model did not reveal significant volume increases in the caudate. Meta-regression indicated a negative relationship between the reported increases in the DG and relative symptom improvement (-0.27 (SE: 0.09) per 10%).

CONCLUSIONS

ECT is accompanied by significant volume increases in the bilateral hippocampus and amygdala that are not associated with treatment outcome. Among hippocampal subfields, the most robust volume increases after ECT were measured in the dentate gyrus. The indicated negative correlation of this effect with antidepressant efficacy warrants replication in data of individual patients.

An Observational Retrospective Study Investigating Changes in Seizure Adequacy Parameters of Electroconvulsive Therapy and Their Relationships to Clinical Outcome in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

The aim of the current study was to investigate a possible relationship between electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) seizure adequacy parameters and clinical outcome as well as differences between ECT responders and nonresponders in terms of ECT seizure parameters in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. First and last ECT records data, sociodemographic variables, and baseline and post ECT Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores were obtained. Maximum sustained power was higher in last ECT in favor of responders while peak heart rate was higher in ECT nonresponders than responders in first ECT. Stimulus doses were higher in last ECT than in the first ECT in both groups. No predictor variable was observed among baseline ECT seizure parameters for clinical improvement. Study was insufficient to yield a precise finding pointing a relationship between electrophysiological seizure parameters and clinical outcome in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

Speed of electroconvulsive therapy for depression: Effects of electrode placement

OBJECTIVE

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a rapidly effective treatment for severe depression. Treatment with right unilateral (RUL) or bitemporal (BT) ECT may explain individual differences in speed of ECT effectiveness. There is limited evidence for demographic and clinical factors that predict speed of response and remission with ECT. We aimed to investigate differences in speed of improvement as well as achieving response and remission between twice-weekly brief-pulse high-dose (6 × seizure threshold) RUL ECT and moderate-dose (1.5 × seizure threshold) BT ECT. We also explored demographic and clinical characteristics that predict speed of response and remission.

METHODS

Weekly 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores were assessed among patients with severe depression who participated in the EFFECT-Dep trial (ISRCTN23577151). Speed of improvement in patients randomised to RUL ECT (n = 69) or BT ECT (n = 69) was compared using independent sample t tests. Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact tests compared proportions of responders and remitters at each weekly assessment. Predictors of speed of response and remission were explored using Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between RUL and BT ECT in speed of improvement, response or remission. Exploratory analyses indicated that speed of response and remission were not predicted by a wide variety of demographic and clinical characteristics.

CONCLUSION

ECT electrode placement did not have predictive value when determining speed of improvement, response and remission with ECT. Other clinical factors, such as cognitive side-effects, may be more relevant when making the clinical choice between RUL and BT ECT.

Similar clinical improvement of depression using 0.5-ms and 1-ms pulse widths in bilateral electroconvulsive therapy

There is a lack of research regarding 0.5-ms pulse width (PW) in bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and number of treatment sessions between groups receiving 0.5-ms and 1-ms PW ECT. Ninety-four patients with unipolar major depression treated with acute bilateral ECT were analysed retrospectively, grouped as consecutive patients treated with 0.5-ms PW ECT (n = 47), and age- and sex-matched patients treated with 1-ms PW ECT. Clinical and ECT data were extracted from clinical records. Symptom evaluations and global cognitive screening at baseline and post-ECT were administered by trained psychiatrists. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS-21) was rated weekly. Efficacy and number of treatment sessions were compared between groups. PW was explored as a predictor of mean decrease in HDRS and number of treatment sessions by regression models. Group characteristics did not differ at baseline. The mean decrease in HDRS in the 0.5- and 1-ms PW [25.85 (7.79) vs. 24.33 (6.99), respectively], response (95.7% vs. 97.9%), remission (87.2% vs. 80.9%) and mean number of treatment sessions [11.28 (3.85) vs. 11.34 (3.36)] were not significantly different. Episode duration and severity, and previous ECT predicted HDRS decrease. Severity at baseline and the 6th session, the dosing method and the last ECT treatment dose predicted the number of treatment sessions needed. PW was not significant in the regressions models. The results suggest that both PWs perform similarly in bilateral ECT for depression, resulting in equivalent antidepressant efficacy and number of treatment sessions needed.

Recent advances in electroconvulsive therapy and physical treatments for depression

This article gives an update for practitioners on recent developments in the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and related treatment modalities in the contemporary treatment of depression in the UK. Details are provided on new information on the efficacy and side-effects of ECT both in research studies and in the real world, together with recent research on ECT's mode of delivery. There is a focus on the safe administration of ECT in clinical practice. An update on the regulatory framework for ECT in the UK is provided, together with up-to-date information on the legal situation regarding its prescription. Finally, brief summaries of the current position for other neuromodulatory treatment modalities are given.

Association of treatment facets, severity of manic symptoms, psychomotor disturbances and psychotic features with response to electroconvulsive therapy in bipolar depression

OBJECTIVES

Clinically useful predictors of response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are warranted, especially in the case of bipolar depression. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between response and its known and putative correlates.

METHODS

Six hundred seventy bipolar depressive patients treated with ECT were included in the study. The association between response (CGI-I ≤ 2) and mean seizure duration, number of treatments, age, sex, bipolar subtype, episode duration, HAM-D and YMRS scores, psychomotor disturbances and psychotic symptoms assessed through BPRS-EV were evaluated by means of univariate and multivariate logistic regression models, including quadratic and/or linear effects of continuous variables.

RESULTS

Four hundred eighty three patients (72%) were responders. Among known correlates of response, significant quadratic effects were found for seizure duration and number of treatments, while a linear association was confirmed for episode duration. Among putative correlates, severe motor retardation, tension or agitation, hyperactivity and delusions of guilt were significantly associated with response (p<.01) and a significant quadratic effect was found for YMRS score (p<.01).

CONCLUSION

Bipolar depressive patients with severe psychomotor disturbances, mood-congruent delusions and severe mixed features are highly responsive to ECT. A significant improvement in response prediction is expected when considering those clinical characteristics.

Is ketamine an appropriate alternative to ECT for patients with treatment resistant depression? A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Ketamine has repeatedly shown to have rapid and robust antidepressant effects in patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD). An important question is whether ketamine is as effective and safe as the current gold standard electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

METHODS

The literature was searched for trials comparing ketamine treatment with ECT for depression in the Pubmed/MEDLINE database and Cochrane Trials Library.

RESULTS

A total of 137 manuscripts were identified, 6 articles were included in this review. Overall quality of the included studies was diverse with relevant risk of bias for some of the studies. Results suggest that ketamine treatment might give faster but perhaps less durable antidepressant effects. Side effects differed from ECT, in particular less cognitive impairment was apparent in ketamine treatment.

LIMITATIONS

The included studies have limited sample sizes, use different treatment protocols and in most trials, longer term follow up is lacking. Furthermore, allocation bias appears likely in the non-randomized trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Current available literature does not yet provide convincing evidence to consider ketamine as an equally effective treatment alternative to ECT in patients with TRD. There are indications for a more favourable short term cognitive side effect profile after ketamine treatment. Methodologically well-designed studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow up duration are warranted.

Neurocognitive functioning after electroconvulsive therapy in late-life depression: A 4-year prospective study

OBJECTIVE

Despite the proven efficacy and safety of ECT, there is still concern about the possible cognitive side effects of ECT in older patients. In this study, we aimed to characterize the long-term cognitive effects of ECT in patients with late-life depression (LLD) from before the start until 4 years after the index ECT course.

METHODS

Fourty one patients aged 55 years and older with a unipolar depression, referred for ECT, were included. The neuropsychological test battery was assessed prior to ECT, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 4 years after the last ECT session.

RESULTS

We did not find any statistically significant cognitive changes from before the start to 4 years after ending the ECT course. Although we could not detect cognitive changes at group level, we found clinically important differences on an individual level.

CONCLUSION

Cognitive performance in patients with LLD runs a stable course from before the start of ECT until 4 years after the index course. At an individual level, however, both cognitive decline and improvement can be witnessed. Older patients can tolerate ECT and most of them will not experience long-term cognitive side effects.

Case report: delayed response after electroconvulsive therapy in a patient with major depressive disorder

BACKGROUND

Major depressive disorder and associated mood syndromes are amongst the most common psychiatric disorders. To date, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered the most effective short-term treatment for patients with severe or treatment-resistant depression. In clinical practice, there is considerable variation in the ECT dosing schedule, with the number of sessions typically ranging from 6 to 12, with early antidepressant effects being predictive of increased positive outcomes. We describe here an unusual case of a female patient with severe depression who did not respond to ECT until the 11th session, after which she had shown a drastic improvement in her mental state.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 75-year-old female presented to the old age psychiatry inpatient unit with new onset dysphoric mood, anhedonia, and severe negativity. She scored 23 on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), and was rated 6 on Clinical Global Impression severity (CGIS) by the responsible clinician. She suffered from post-natal depression fifty years ago and was successfully treated with ECT. She was therefore initiated on a course of ECT treatment. Her condition initially deteriorated, displaying features of catatonia and psychosis, unresponsive to ECT treatment or concurrent psychotropic medications. After 11th ECT session, she started to show signs of clinical improvement and returned close to her baseline mental state after a total of 17 ECT sessions. She remained well 3 months post-treatment, scoring 4 on HAM-D, Clinical Global Improvement or change (CGI-C) rated as 1 (very much improved). The diagnosis was ICD-10 F32.3 severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

we describe here an unusual case of delayed response to electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of severe depressive disorder. Studies have shown the number of acute ECT treatments to be highly variable, affected by a number of factors including treatment frequency, condition treated and its severity, the ECT technical parameters, as well as concurrent use of pharmacological treatment. This may call for re-consideration of the current ECT treatment guidelines, requiring more research to help stratify and standardize the treatment regime.

Impact of vascular risk factors on clinical outcome in elderly patients with depression receiving electroconvulsive therapy

BACKGROUND

Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective, safe, and well-tolerated antidepressant treatment for late-life depression (LLD), there is large variability in response rates across individuals. We hypothesized that these variations would be in part explained by the level of vascular risk in this population. We therefore compared response rates to ECT in patients with LLD presenting with or without vascular risk factors (VRF).

METHODS

52 patients with LLD (age > 55) who received a course of ECT were separated into 2 groups according to the presence of VRF (n = 20) or not (n = 32). Framingham score (10-year risk for developing a coronary heart disease) was calculated for each patient. Our primary outcome was the number of responders to ECT in each group (defined as at least 50% decrease of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score following ECT course). Scores at the self-rated Beck Depression Inventory are also reported.

RESULTS

Patients with VRF presented significant lower response rates to ECT (12 out of 20; 60%) than patients without VRF (30 out of 32; 94%; p = 0.004). A negative correlation was found between Framingham score and changes in depression scores pre/post ECT (r = -0.42; p = 0.0039).

LIMITATIONS

Our study was limited by sample size and retrospective design.

CONCLUSION

Patients with LLD and VRF showed lower response rates to ECT than those without VRF. The more the VRF increased, the less the antidepressant effect of ECT was observed. Results are discussed in light of the role of apathy in clinical response to ECT.

Volume of hippocampal subregions and clinical improvement following electroconvulsive therapy in patients with depression

It is thought that the hippocampal neurogenesis is an important mediator of the antidepressant effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). However, most previous studies failed to demonstrate the relationship between the increase in the hippocampal volume and the antidepressant effect. We reinvestigated this relationship by looking at distinct hippocampal subregions and applying repeated measures correlation. Using a 3 Tesla MRI-scanner, we scanned 22 severely depressed in-patients at three time points: before the ECT series, after the series, and at six-month follow-up. The depression severity was assessed by the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17). The hippocampus was segmented into subregions using Freesurfer software. The dentate gyrus (DG) was the primary region of interest (ROI), due to the role of this region in neurogenesis. The other major hippocampal subregions were the secondary ROIs (n = 20). The general linear mixed model and the repeated measures correlation were used for statistical analyses. Immediately after the ECT series, a significant volume increase was present in the right DG (Cohen's d = 1.7) and the left DG (Cohen's d = 1.5), as well as 15 out of 20 secondary ROIs. The clinical improvement, i.e., the decrease in HAMD-17 score, was correlated to the increase in the right DG volume (r_rm = -0.77, df = 20, p < .001), and the left DG volume (r_rm = -0.75, df = 20, p < .001). Similar correlations were observed in 14 out of 20 secondary ROIs. Thus, ECT induces an increase not only in the volume of the DG, but also in the volume of other major hippocampal subregions. The volumetric increases may reflect a neurobiological process that may be related to the ECT's antidepressant effect. Further investigation of the relationship between hippocampal subregions and the antidepressant effect is warranted. A statistical approach taking the repeated measurements into account should be preferred in the analyses.

Inflammation, Hippocampal Volume, and Therapeutic Outcome following Electroconvulsive Therapy in Depressive Patients: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) influences the concentration of peripheral inflammatory markers, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In which way this immune effect contributes to the impact of ECT on the central nervous system in depression remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine whether the hippocampal volumetric increase in depressed patients treated with ECT is related to changes in peripheral IL-6 and TNF-α levels.

METHODS

IL-6 and TNF-α plasma levels were measured in 62 patients 1 week before and after an acute course of ECT. Hippocampal volumes were analyzed in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) subsample of 13 patients at the same time points.

RESULTS

A significant decrease in IL-6 levels was observed in the total sample and a significant increase in hippocampal volume in the MRI subsample. The reduction of peripheral IL-6 correlated with an increase in total hippocampal volume. A more limited decrease of TNF-α correlated with a more limited increase of both the total and left hippocampus volumes.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study is the first to highlight the link between peripheral immune changes and hippocampal volume increase following ECT. Further research is required to conclude whether ECT indeed exerts its central effect on the brain via changes of peripheral inflammatory markers.

A symptom-based approach in predicting ECT outcome in depressed patients employing MADRS single items

Establishing symptom-based predictors of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) outcome seems promising, however, findings concerning the predictive value of distinct depressive symptoms or subtypes are limited; previous factor-analytic approaches based on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) remained inconclusive, as proposed factors varied across samples. In this naturalistic study, we refrained from these previous factor-analytic approaches and examined the predictive value of MADRS single items and their change during the course of ECT concerning ECT outcome. We used logistic and linear regression models to analyze MADRS data routinely assessed at three time points in 96 depressed psychiatric inpatients over the course of ECT. Mean age was 53 years (SD 14.79), gender ratio was 58:38 (F:M), baseline MADRS score was M = 30.20 (SD 5.42). MADRS single items were strong predictors of ECT response, remission and overall symptom reduction, especially items 1 (apparent sadness), 2 (reported sadness) and 8 (inability to feel), assessing affective symptoms. Strongest effects were found for regression models including item 2 (reported sadness) with up to 80% correct prediction of ECT outcome. ROC analyses were performed to estimate the optimal cut-point for treatment response. MADRS single items during the course of ECT might pose simple, reliable, time- and cost-effective predictors of ECT outcome. More severe affective symptoms of depression at baseline and a stronger reduction of these affective symptoms during the course of ECT seem to be positively associated with ECT outcome. Precise cut-off values for clinical use were proposed. Generally, these findings underline the benefits of a symptom-based approach in depression research and treatment in addition to depression sum-scores and generalized diagnoses.

Empirical ratio of the combined use of S-ketamine and propofol in electroconvulsive therapy and its impact on seizure quality

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for depressive disorders. In certain cases, ECT-associated anaesthesia can be improved by the use of ketofol (i.e., S-ketamine + propofol). We aimed to evaluate the empirical mixing ratio of ketofol in these cases for better clinical implementation. We retrospectively investigated n = 52 patients who received 919 ECT sessions with S-ketamine plus propofol as anaesthetic agents. Several anaesthesia and ECT-related parameters including doses of S-ketamine and propofol were analysed. The mean empirically determined S-ketamine/propofol ratio was 1.38 (SD ± 0.57) for 919 individual ECT sessions and 1.52 (SD ± 0.62) for 52 patients, respectively. The mean relative dose was 0.72 (± 0.18) mg/kg S-ketamine and 0.54 (± 0.21) mg/kg propofol. Higher propofol dose was associated with poorer seizure quality. Seizure quality and time in recovery room were significantly influenced by age. Ketofol could be an option to exploit the advantageous qualities of S-ketamine and propofol, if both doses are reduced compared with single use of S-ketamine or propofol. Patients with poor seizure quality may benefit from lower propofol doses, which are applicable by the addition of ketamine. An empirically determined mixing ratio in favour of ketamine turned out to be preferable in a clinical setting. Recovery time was primarily prolonged by higher age rather than by ketamine dose, which had previously often been associated with a prolonged monitoring time in the recovery room. These new findings could improve electroconvulsive therapy and should be replicated in a prospective manner.

Using EEG to Predict Clinical Response to Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients With Major Depression: A Comprehensive Review

Introduction: An important approach to improve the therapeutic effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be to early characterize patients who are more likely to respond. Our objective was to explore whether baseline electroencephalography (EEG) settings before the beginning of ECT treatment can predict future clinical response to ECT in patients with depressive disorder. Methods: We conducted a systematic search in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases to identify studies using EEG in adults with depressive disorder treated by ECT. To investigate the predictive value of baseline EEG on clinical outcomes of ECT, we extracted from the retrieved studies and qualitatively described the association between the baseline EEG markers characteristics and the rates of future responders and/or remitters to ECT. Results: The primary search yielded 2,531 potentially relevant citations, and 12 articles were selected according to inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were prospective studies with small sample size. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients, ECT settings, EEG settings, and outcomes were heterogeneous. Event-related potential (ERP) paradigms were used in three studies, polysomnography was used in three studies, and the six other studies used EEG to measure cerebral connectivity and activity. Conclusions: P300 amplitude, coherence, and connectivity measures were correlated with remission in patients with depression treated by ECT. Sleep EEG recordings seemed not to be correlated with remission after ECT. Further prospective studies with large sample size are needed to determine optimal EEG parameters associated with clinical response to ECT in depressive disorder. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42020181978.

Bi-temporal electroconvulsive therapy efficacy in bipolar and unipolar depression: A retrospective comparison

AIM

Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been extensively used for depressive episodes in bipolar disorder (BDD), it has received less interest in research compared with major depressive disorder (MDD). Studies comparing the efficacy of ECT in BDD and MDD have been contradictory. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of ECT in BDD and MDD, analyzing the influence of clinical features on outcome.

METHODS

The medical charts and electronic records of 107 patients (MDDn = 75 [70.1 %], BDD n = 32 [29.9 %]) receiving bi-temporal ECT were investigated retrospectively. Features of the index episode, such as the time elapsed until ECT and the effect of diagnosis on efficacy evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), were analyzed.

RESULTS

The diagnostic groups were alike concerning clinical features of the index episode, such as the presence of psychotic symptoms and suicidality. Patient age and the number of previous affective episodes were significantly different between the groups. The time elapsed until ECT in the examined episode was significantly longer in the MDD group. Compared with the MDD group, the BDD group had a significantly higher remission rate with ECT. Regression analysis revealed that BDD diagnosis, older age, and shorter time until ECT were significantly associated with remission.

CONCLUSION

The significant relationship observed between greater time elapsed until ECT and worse outcome is noteworthy in terms of clinical practice. This finding further challenges the widely accepted place of ECT as the "last resort" for the treatment of depression in bipolar and unipolar affective disorders.

Bifrontal electroconvulsive therapy changed regional homogeneity and functional connectivity of left angular gyrus in major depressive disorder

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a rapid and effective treatment for MDD. However, the mechanism of ECT for MDD has not been clarified. In this study, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to explore the mechanism of ECT. Two groups of subjects were recruited: healthy controls (HCs) and MDD patients who received bifrontal ECT. MDD patients and HCs underwent rs-fMRI scans and clinical assessments (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Rey-Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), and the verbal fluency test). Regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity were evaluated for the analysis of rs-fMRI data. The results showed that ReHo values in the left angular gyrus (LAG) significantly increased in MDD patients after ECT, and the functional connectivity of the LAG with bilateral inferior temporal gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, left precuneus, left posterior cingulate gyrus, and right angular gyrus was found to be strengthened after ECT. The scores of delayed recall trial in the RAVLT of MDD patients were related to the functional connectivity of the LAG with the left inferior temporal gyrus and the left posterior cingulate gyrus. It indicated LAG palyed an important role in the mechanism of ECT in MDD.

Wearable technology to assess bradykinesia and immobility in patients with severe depression undergoing electroconvulsive therapy: A pilot study

The psychomotor retardation that may be seen in major depression represents an interesting parallel to bradykinesia, a core feature of Parkinson's disease. Psychomotor retardation has been correlated with the severity of depression and is a predictor of response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Psychomotor retardation has typically been assessed by subjective clinical judgement including clinical rating scales. Gross activity levels have also been measured with actigraphy previously. The Parkinson's KinetiGraph (PKG) was developed to assess bradykinesia, dyskinesia and tremor in Parkinson's disease and allows for an objective assessment of motor symptoms over time. It has not been used previously to assess motor symptoms in depression. The aim of the current pilot study was to use the PKG to objectively measure both bradykinesia and immobility in depressed inpatients undergoing ECT before, during and at the end of therapy and review correlations with depressive symptomatology and treatment response. The majority of patients (9/12) had PKG defined bradykinesia at baseline and 7/9 of these improved with ECT. All patients with bradykinesia who remitted clinically demonstrated improvements in bradykinesia scores. PKG defined immobility was present at baseline in 11/12 total patients and improved in the majority of these patients (9/11) post ECT. Correlations between clinically assessed melancholia and PKG measures were significant (r = 0.701, p 0.011 at baseline to r_s = 0.655, p 0.021 at end). A strong association between bradykinesia and immobility scores and depression severity was not seen. The PKG is a potentially useful wearable technology to objectively assess motor symptoms in depression.

Using routine MRI data of depressed patients to predict individual responses to electroconvulsive therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments in cases of severe and treatment resistant major depression. 60-80% of patients respond to ECT, but the procedure is demanding and robust prediction of ECT responses would be of great clinical value. Predictions based on neuroimaging data have recently come into focus, but still face methodological and practical limitations that are hampering the translation into clinical practice. In this retrospective study, we investigated the feasibility of ECT response prediction using structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data that was collected during ECT routine examinations. We applied machine learning techniques to predict individual treatment outcomes in a cohort of N = 71 ECT patients, N = 39 of which responded to the treatment. SMRI-based classification of ECT responders and non-responders reached an accuracy of 69% (sensitivity: 67%; specificity: 72%). Classification on additionally investigated clinical variables had no predictive power. Since dichotomisation of patients into ECT responders and non-responders is debatable due to many patients only showing a partial response, we additionally performed a post-hoc regression-based prediction analysis on continuous symptom improvements. This analysis yielded a significant relationship between true and predicted treatment outcomes and might be a promising alternative to dichotomization of patients. Based on our results, we argue that the prediction of individual ECT responses based on routine sMRI holds promise to overcome important limitations that are currently hampering the translation of such treatment biomarkers into everyday clinical practice. Finally, we discuss how the results of such predictive data analysis could best support the clinician's decision on whether a patient should be treated with ECT.

Electroconvulsive Therapy for Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a well-established treatment for psychiatric disorders, including depression and psychosis. ECT has been reported to be effective in treating such psychiatric symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and has been also reported to be effective in treating motor symptoms. The aim of the study is to summarize previous clinical studies investigating the efficacy of ECT for symptoms in patients with PD.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of any study designs assessing motor and/or non-motor symptoms in patients with PD before and after ECT. Co-primary outcomes were set as motor manifestations assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale or other rating scales, and non-motor symptoms included depression and psychosis. Secondary outcomes were wearing-off phenomenon and cognitive function. The impact of ECT on those symptoms was examined by comparing the severity of the symptoms before and after ECT using a random effect model and was expressed in standardized mean difference.

RESULTS

Of 1219 identified citations, 14 studies (n = 129; 1 randomized controlled study, 9 prospective observational studies, and 4 retrospective studies) were analyzed. The findings were as follows: ECT significantly improved motor manifestations in patients with PD, and the improvement was significant in the subpopulation without psychiatric symptoms; ECT significantly improved depression and psychosis; and ECT significantly relieved wearing-off phenomenon and did not worsen cognitive functioning.

CONCLUSION

The current meta-analysis suggests the potential benefit of ECT on motor and non-motor symptoms in presumably complicated and difficult-to-treat subgroups. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Early and late effects of electroconvulsive therapy associated with different temporal lobe structures

Recent studies examining electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have reported that early sessions can induce rapid antidepressant and antipsychotic effects, and the early termination of ECT was reported to increase the risk of relapse. We hypothesized that different neural mechanisms associated with the therapeutic effects of ECT may be involved in the different responses observed during the early and late periods of ECT treatment. We investigated whether these antidepressant and antipsychotic effects were associated with temporally and spatially different regional gray matter volume (GMV) changes during ECT. Fourteen patients with major depressive disorder, with or without psychotic features, underwent 3-Tesla structural magnetic resonance imaging scans before (time point [Tp] 1), after the fifth or sixth ECT session (Tp2), and after ECT completion (Tp3). We investigated the regions in which GMV changed between Tp1 and Tp2, Tp2 and Tp3, and Tp1 and Tp3 using voxel-based morphometry. In addition, we investigated the association between regional GMV changes and improvement in depressive or psychotic symptoms. GMV increase in the left superior and inferior temporal gyrus during Tp1-Tp2 was associated with improvement in psychotic symptoms (P < 0.025). GMV increase in the left hippocampus was associated with improvement of depressive symptoms in Tp2-Tp3 (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that different temporal lobe structures are associated with early antipsychotic and late antidepressant effects of ECT.

International Consortium on the Genetics of Electroconvulsive Therapy and Severe Depressive Disorders (Gen-ECT-ic)

Recent genome-wide association studies have demonstrated that the genetic burden associated with depression correlates with depression severity. Therefore, conducting genetic studies of patients at the most severe end of the depressive disorder spectrum, those with treatment-resistant depression and who are prescribed electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), could lead to a better understanding of the genetic underpinnings of depression. Despite ECT being one of the most effective forms of treatment for severe depressive disorders, it is usually placed at the end of treatment algorithms of current guidelines. This is perhaps because ECT has controlled risk and logistical demands including use of general anaesthesia and muscle relaxants and side-effects such as short-term memory impairment. Better understanding of the genetics and biology of ECT response and of cognitive side-effects could lead to more personalized treatment decisions. To enhance the understanding of the genomics of severe depression and ECT response, researchers and ECT providers from around the world and from various depression or ECT networks, but not limited to, such as the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, the Clinical Alliance and Research in ECT, and the National Network of Depression Centers have formed the Genetics of ECT International Consortium (Gen-ECT-ic). Gen-ECT-ic will organize the largest clinical and genetic collection to date to study the genomics of severe depressive disorders and response to ECT, aiming for 30,000 patients worldwide using a GWAS approach. At this stage it will be the largest genomic study on treatment response in depression. Retrospective data abstraction and prospective data collection will be facilitated by a uniform data collection approach that is flexible and will incorporate data from many clinical practices. Gen-ECT-ic invites all ECT providers and researchers to join its efforts.

A two-site, open-label, non-randomized trial comparing Focal Electrically-Administered Seizure Therapy (FEAST) and right unilateral ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive therapy (RUL-UBP ECT)

BACKGROUND

Focal Electrically-Administered Seizure Therapy (FEAST) is a form of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) that spatially focuses the electrical stimulus to initiate seizure activity in right prefrontal cortex. Two open-label non-comparative studies suggested that FEAST has reduced cognitive side effects when compared to historical data from other forms of ECT. In two different ECT clinics, we compared the efficacy and cognitive side effects of FEAST and Right Unilateral Ultrabrief Pulse (RUL-UBP) ECT.

METHODS

Using a non-randomized, open-label design, 39 depressed adults were recruited after referral for ECT. Twenty patients received FEAST (14 women; age 45.2 ± 12.7), and 19 received RUL-UBP ECT (16 women; age 43.2 ± 16.4). Key cognitive outcome measures were the postictal time to reorientation and the Columbia University Autobiographical Memory Interview: Short-Form (CUAMI-SF). Antidepressant effects were assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD24).

RESULTS

In the Intent-to-treat sample, a repeated measures mixed model suggested no between group difference in HRSD24 score over time (F1,35 = 0.82, p = 0.37), while the response rate favored FEAST (FEAST: 65%; RUL-UBP ECT: 57.9%), and the remission rate favored RUL-UBP ECT (FEAST: 35%; RUL-UBP ECT: 47.4%). The FEAST group had numeric superiority in average time to reorientation (FEAST: 6.6 ± 5.0 min; RUL-UBP ECT: 8.8 ± 5.8 min; Cohens d = 0.41), and CUAMI-SF consistency score (FEAST: 69.2 ± 14.2%; RUL-UBP ECT: 63.9 ± 9.9%; Cohens d = 0.43); findings that failed to meet statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

FEAST exerts similar efficacy relative to an optimal form of conventional ECT and may have milder cognitive side effects. A blinded, randomized, non-inferiority trial is needed.

Predicting Individual Remission After Electroconvulsive Therapy Based on Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Machine Learning Approach

OBJECTIVE

To identify important clinical or imaging features predictive of an individual's response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) by utilizing a machine learning approach.

METHODS

Twenty-seven depressed patients who received ECT were recruited. Clinical demographics and pretreatment structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were used as candidate features to build models to predict remission and post-ECT Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores. Support vector machine and support vector regression with elastic-net regularization were used to build models using (i) only clinical features, (ii) only MRI features, and (iii) both clinical and MRI features. Consistently selected features across all individuals were identified through leave-one-out cross-validation.

RESULTS

Compared with models that include only clinical variables, the models including MRI data improved the prediction of ECT remission: the prediction accuracy improved from 70% to 93%. Features selected consistently across all individuals included volumes in the gyrus rectus, the right anterior lateral temporal lobe, the cuneus, and the third ventricle, as well as 2 clinical features: psychotic features and family history of mood disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

Pretreatment structural MRI data improved the individual predictive accuracy of ECT remission, and only a small subset of features was important for prediction.

Hair cortisol in patients with a depressive episode treated with electroconvulsive therapy

BACKGROUND

There is substantial evidence showing changes in hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA)-axis activity in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Also, there seem to be differences in HPA-axis functioning between MDD subgroups. It is however unclear whether hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), which are a stable marker of long-term cortisol levels, are suitable as a biomarker for identifying subgroups in MDD.

METHODS

We were able to attain valid HCC from a scalp hair sample of sixty-two patients with a major depressive episode right before electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). HCC were our main biological outcome measure. We created subgroups using depression severity as defined by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the presence/absence of psychotic symptoms, the presence of melancholia as defined by the CORE and catatonia as defined by the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale.

RESULTS

Our analyses of the total group showed a median HCC of 4.4 pg/mg. We found patients with catatonia (N = 10) to have substantially higher median HCC (8.3 pg/mg) than patients without catatonia (3.8 pg/mg). Although presence of melancholia and depression severity were not significantly associated with HCC, more severe psychomotor agitation was associated with higher HCC. Pre-treatment HCC was not associated with ECT outcome.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

A complicating factor in interpretation of our results was the large variability in HCC. This could be related to potential confounders such as cardiometabolic and other comorbidities, that were however addressed to the extent possible.

CONCLUSIONS

HCC is a potential biomarker for MDD patients with severe agitation and/or catatonia. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: Identifier: NCT02562846.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for moderate-severity major depression among the elderly: Data from the pride study

BACKGROUND

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is usually reserved for treatment of severe major depressive disorder (MDD), but may be equally effective in the treatment of moderate-severity MDD. This possibility, however, has only been studied to a very limited extent. We therefore investigated the efficacy of ECT after stratifying patients into severe MDD and moderate-severity MDD.

METHODS

We used data from the Prolonging Remission in Depressed Elderly (PRIDE) study, in which 240 patients (≥60 years) with MDD were treated with right unilateral ultrabrief pulse ECT, combined with venlafaxine. We used the six-item core depression subscale (HAM-D₆) of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale to define depression severity. Participants with baseline total scores ≥12 on the HAM-D₆ were considered to have severe MDD, while those with HAM-D₆ total scores <12 were considered to have moderate-severity MDD.

RESULTS

Among the participants with severe MDD and moderate-severity MDD, the mean change in the HAM-D₆ total score from baseline to endpoint was -8.2 (95% confidence interval (95%CI) = -7.5; -9.0, paired t-test: p < 0.001) and -5.9 (95%CI = -5.1; -6.6, paired t-test: p < 0.001), respectively. A total of 63% of those with severe MDD and 75% of those with moderate-severity MDD achieved remission (HAM-D₆ total score ≤4) (Pearson's 2-sample chi-squared test of difference between groups: p = 0.27).

LIMITATIONS

The PRIDE study was not designed to address this research question.

CONCLUSIONS

ECT combined with venlafaxine appears to be an effective treatment for moderate-severity MDD. It may be appropriate to expand the indications for ECT to include patients with moderate-severity MDD.

Comorbid depression in medical diseases

Depression is one of the most common comorbidities of many chronic medical diseases including cancer and cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory and neurological disorders. Indeed, the prevalence of depression in these patient groups is often substantially higher than in the general population, and depression accounts for a substantial part of the psychosocial burden of these disorders. Many factors can contribute to the occurrence of comorbid depression, such as shared genetic factors, converging biological pathways, social factors, health behaviours and psychological factors. Diagnosis of depression in patients with a medical disorder can be particularly challenging owing to symptomatic overlap. Although pharmacological and psychological treatments can be effective, adjustments may need to be made for patients with a comorbid medical disorder. In addition, symptoms or treatments of medical disorders may interfere with the treatment of depression. Conversely, symptoms of depression may decrease adherence to treatment of both disorders. Thus, comprehensive treatment plans are necessary to optimize care.

Understanding electroconvulsive therapy-related anxiety: a prospective study

AIMS OF STUDY

Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-related anxiety is experienced by a significant proportion of patients, it remains understudied. Our aim was to study the course of ECT-related anxiety during ECT.

METHODS

Seventy-four patients with unipolar or bipolar depression, referred for ECT, were included. ECT-related anxiety was assessed the morning before each ECT session using the ECT-related Anxiety Questionnaire (ERAQ).

RESULTS

Female patients reported more anxiety than men (F(1,64.6) = 3.95, P = 0.05). Patients with a psychotic depression were more anxious before the start of ECT (F(64.8) = 4.57, P = 0.04), but experienced a significant decrease in ECT-related anxiety (t(63.9) = -3.63, P = 0.0006), whereas patients with a non-psychotic depression remained stable on anxiety during their ECT course (t(63,9) = 0.76, P = 0.45). In addition, we found a significant correlation between the decrease of ECT-related anxiety and the decrease of depression-severity (r = 0.35; P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

There are individual differences in ECT-related anxiety trajectories during ECT. Both female patients and patients with psychotic depression experienced more ECT-related anxiety before the start of ECT. The severity of ECT-related anxiety decreased significantly in patients with a psychotic depression, but remained stable in patients without a psychotic depression during ECT. In addition, patients who showed a stronger decrease in depression-severity also showed a stronger decrease in ECT-related anxiety. A better understanding of ECT-related anxiety trajectories can help in designing anxiety-reducing interventions.

Novel candidate genes for ECT response prediction-a pilot study analyzing the DNA methylome of depressed patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) represents a serious global health concern. The urge for efficient MDD treatment strategies is presently hindered by the incomplete knowledge of its underlying pathomechanism. Despite recent progress (highlighting both genetics and the environment, and thus DNA methylation, to be relevant for its development), 30–50% of MDD patients still fail to reach remission with standard treatment approaches. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most powerful options for the treatment of pharmacoresistant depression; nevertheless, ECT remission rates barely reach 50% in large-scale naturalistic population-based studies. To optimize MDD treatment strategies and enable personalized medicine in the long- term, prospective indicators of ECT response are thus in great need. Because recent target-driven analyses revealed DNA methylation baseline differences between ECT responder groups, we analyzed the DNA methylome of depressed ECT patients using next-generation sequencing. In this pilot study, we did not only aim to find novel targets for ECT response prediction but also to get a deeper insight into its possible mechanism of action.

Results

Longitudinal DNA methylation analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from a cohort of treatment-resistant MDD patients (n = 12; time points: before and after 1st and last ECT, respectively) using a TruSeq-Methyl Capture EPIC Kit for library preparation, led to the following results: (1) The global DNA methylation differed neither between the four measured time points nor between ECT responders (n = 8) and non-responders (n = 4). (2) Analyzing the DNA methylation variance for every probe (=1476812 single CpG sites) revealed eight novel candidate genes to be implicated in ECT response (protein-coding genes: RNF175, RNF213, TBC1D14, TMC5, WSCD1; genes encoding for putative long non-coding RNA transcripts: AC018685.2, AC098617.1, CLCN3P1). (3) In addition, DNA methylation of two CpG sites (located within AQP10 and TRERF1) was found to change during the treatment course.

Conclusions

We suggest ten novel candidate genes to be implicated in either ECT response or its possible mechanism. Because of the small sample size of our pilot study, our findings must be regarded as preliminary.

Psychotic depressive subtype and white mater hyperintensities do not predict cognitive side effects in ECT: A systematic review of pretreatment predictors

BACKGROUND

Most studies regarding cognitive side-effects following ECT for treating depression report transient forms of cognitive disturbances. However, a growing number of studies also report considerable differences among individual patients.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review was to identify pretreatment patient characteristics for predicting the risk of developing cognitive side-effects following ECT.

METHODS

Online databases PubMed/Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO were searched for articles published from 2002 through May 2019, using the following relevant search terms: #cognitive deficits AND #Electro Convulsive Therapy. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied for full-text inclusion. PRISMA guidelines were used.

RESULTS

Our initial search yielded 2155 publications; 16 studies were included. A total of 16 possible predictive factors were identified. Two factors, psychotic features and white matter hyperintensities, were conclusively found to not predict cognitive side-effects following ECT; the remaining 14 factors were inconclusive.

CONCLUSIONS

There is robust evidence that psychotic features and white matter hyperintensities are not predictive of cognitive side-effects following ECT. None of the other 14 factors examined were predictive, however these levels of evidence were weak and therefore inconclusive. Additional studies focusing primarily on pretreatment patient characteristics for predicting cognitive side-effects following ECT are needed, including demographic, clinical, physiological, neurobiological, and genetic factors. Finally, we provide suggestions for future research.

Maintenance ECT is associated with sustained improvement in depression symptoms without adverse cognitive effects in a retrospective cohort of 100 patients each receiving 50 or more ECT treatments

BACKGROUND

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective acute treatment for depression, but relapse is common following discontinuation. One strategy for prolonging remission is the use of maintenance ECT, but the clinical evidence supporting its efficacy and safety are limited. We examined the effects of maintenance ECT on depression and cognition.

METHODS

Participants were from a retrospective cohort of 100 patients receiving ECT at a freestanding psychiatric hospital and who received at least 50 treatments during a single treatment series. QIDS, BASIS-24, and MoCA were assessed at baseline and every 10 treatments thereafter during the clinical course.

RESULTS

ECT was associated with a rapid decrease in depression symptoms and overall self-reported mental health status within the first 10 treatments, which was sustained throughout a median of 22.1 months of follow-up. There was no change in cognitive functioning as measured by the MoCA. Bilateral and brief pulse treatment parameters were more common by treatment 50 than at the first treatment. Most participants either continued in ECT at the end of the study period or discontinued due to sustained remission.

LIMITATIONS

retrospective observational study without control group who did not receive ECT.

CONCLUSIONS

In this ECT cohort with at least 50 treatments, improvement in depression was sustained on QIDS and BASIS-24 and adverse cognitive effects were not detected by serial MoCAs, supporting the utility of maintenance ECT in this cohort.

Naturalistic follow-up in bipolar patients after successful electroconvulsive therapy

BACKGROUND

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for acute depression, mania and mixed states. We evaluated the long-term outcome of patients with bipolar depression or mixed state, responsive to ECT.

METHODS

this observational follow-up study was conducted in 70 patients with Bipolar Disorder: 36 patients met DSM-IV-TR criteria for a major depressive episode (MDE) and 34 for a mixed episode (MXE). During the follow-up after ECT, the relapse rates and the duration of response and remission periods were recorded.

RESULTS

the mean duration of the follow-up was 57 weeks. 93% of the patients maintained at least a partial therapeutic response for more than 90% of the follow-up period. 73% of patients fulfilled the criteria for a full remission, 33% showed a depressive relapse and 10% a mixed relapse. No manic relapses occurred but almost 1/3 of the sample presented hypomanic episodes. MDE patients presented higher rates of remission compared to MXE ones. Patients with anxiety disorders reported earlier relapses than those without this comorbidity. Relapsed-patients showed higher functional impairment at baseline evaluation, compared to non-relapsed ones.

LIMITATIONS

nonrandom allocation, limited sample size, possible influence of psychopharmacological treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Given several methodological limitations, this study cannot draw definite conclusions but could suggest that in treatment-resistant bipolar patients with severe depression or mixed state, ECT may represent a useful treatment option. Patients with mixed features, comorbid anxiety disorders and higher functional impairment present less favorable outcome. Future research on long-term efficacy of ECT and on clinical predictors of relapse is needed.

Electroconvulsive therapy treatment responsive multimodal brain networks

Electroconvulsive therapy is regarded as the most effective antidepressant treatment for severe and treatment-resistant depressive episodes. Despite the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy, the neurobiological underpinnings and mechanisms underlying electroconvulsive therapy induced antidepressant effects remain unclear. The objective of this investigation was to identify electroconvulsive therapy treatment responsive multimodal biomarkers with the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale guided brain structure-function fusion in 118 patients with depressive episodes and 60 healthy controls. Results show that reduced fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations in the prefrontal cortex, insula and hippocampus, linked with increased gray matter volume in anterior cingulate, medial temporal cortex, insula, thalamus, caudate and hippocampus represent electroconvulsive therapy responsive covarying functional and structural brain networks. In addition, relative to nonresponders, responder-specific electroconvulsive therapy related brain networks occur in frontal-limbic network and are associated with successful therapeutic outcomes. Finally, electroconvulsive therapy responsive brain networks were unrelated to verbal declarative memory. Using a data-driven, supervised-learning method, we demonstrated that electroconvulsive therapy produces a remodeling of brain functional and structural covariance that was unique to antidepressant symptom response, but not linked to memory impairment.