1
|
Seymour J, Mathers N. Placebo stimulates neuroplasticity in depression: implications for clinical practice and research. Front Psychiatry 2024; 14:1301143. [PMID: 38268561 PMCID: PMC10806142 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1301143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Neither psychological nor neuroscientific investigations have been able to fully explain the paradox that placebo is designed to be inert in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), yet appears to be effective in evaluations of clinical interventions in all fields of medicine and alternative medicine. This article develops the Neuroplasticity Placebo Theory, which posits that neuroplasticity in fronto-limbic areas is the unifying factor in placebo response (seen in RCTs) and placebo effect (seen in clinical interventions) where it is not intended to be inert. Depression is the disorder that has the highest placebo response of any medical condition and has the greatest potential for understanding how placebos work: recent developments in understanding of the pathophysiology of depression suggest that fronto-limbic areas are sensitized in depression which is associated with a particularly strong placebo phenomenon. An innovative linkage is made between diverse areas of the psychology and the translational psychiatry literature to provide supportive evidence for the Neuroplasticity Placebo Theory. This is underpinned by neuro-radiological evidence of fronto-limbic change in the placebo arm of antidepressant trials. If placebo stimulates neuroplasticity in fronto-limbic areas in conditions other than depression - and results in a partially active treatment in other areas of medicine - there are far reaching consequences for the day-to-day use of placebo in clinical practice, the future design of RCTs in all clinical conditions, and existing unwarranted assertions about the efficacy of antidepressant medications. If fronto-limbic neuroplasticity is the common denominator in designating placebo as a partially active treatment, the terms placebo effect and placebo response should be replaced by the single term "placebo treatment."
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Seymour
- Retired Consultant Psychiatrist, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust, Rotherham, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel Mathers
- Emeritus Professor, Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Deng ZD, Robins PL, Regenold W, Rohde P, Dannhauer M, Lisanby SH. How electroconvulsive therapy works in the treatment of depression: is it the seizure, the electricity, or both? Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:150-162. [PMID: 37488281 PMCID: PMC10700353 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01677-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
We have known for nearly a century that triggering seizures can treat serious mental illness, but what we do not know is why. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) works faster and better than conventional pharmacological interventions; however, those benefits come with a burden of side effects, most notably memory loss. Disentangling the mechanisms by which ECT exerts rapid therapeutic benefit from the mechanisms driving adverse effects could enable the development of the next generation of seizure therapies that lack the downside of ECT. The latest research suggests that this goal may be attainable because modifications of ECT technique have already yielded improvements in cognitive outcomes without sacrificing efficacy. These modifications involve changes in how the electricity is administered (both where in the brain, and how much), which in turn impacts the characteristics of the resulting seizure. What we do not completely understand is whether it is the changes in the applied electricity, or in the resulting seizure, or both, that are responsible for improved safety. Answering this question may be key to developing the next generation of seizure therapies that lack these adverse side effects, and ushering in novel interventions that are better, faster, and safer than ECT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-De Deng
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Pei L Robins
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - William Regenold
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paul Rohde
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Moritz Dannhauer
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sarah H Lisanby
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Moulier V, Isaac C, Guillin O, Januel D, Bouaziz N, Rothärmel M. Effects of the combination of neurostimulation techniques in patients with mental disorders: A systematic review. Asian J Psychiatr 2024; 91:103863. [PMID: 38141540 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND despite years of development, response to neurostimulation remains partial and variable. Combining techniques could improve clinical efficacy and tolerance. OBJECTIVE to examine the literature on the effects of combining several neurostimulation techniques in patients with mental disorders. METHODS this systematic review follows the PRISMA guidelines RESULTS: 23 studies were included. The most studied combination was electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) along with another neurostimulation technique in depression. The RCTs that showed a significant effect targeted the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, before ECT. Combining neurostimulation techniques is a promising field of research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Moulier
- University Department of Psychiatry, Centre d'Excellence Thérapeutique - Institut de Psychiatrie - Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France; EPS Ville Evrard, Pôle 93G03, Centre de Recherche Clinique, Neuilly-sur-Marne, France.
| | - Clémence Isaac
- EPS Ville Evrard, Pôle 93G03, Centre de Recherche Clinique, Neuilly-sur-Marne, France; Laboratoire Psychopathologie et Processus de Changement, Université Paris 8, Saint-Denis, France
| | - Olivier Guillin
- University Department of Psychiatry, Centre d'Excellence Thérapeutique - Institut de Psychiatrie - Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France; Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France; INSERM U 1245, University of Rouen, Rouen, France; Faculté de Médecine, Normandie University, Rouen, France
| | - Dominique Januel
- EPS Ville Evrard, Pôle 93G03, Centre de Recherche Clinique, Neuilly-sur-Marne, France; La Fondation FondaMental, F-94010 Créteil, France; Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, France
| | - Noomane Bouaziz
- EPS Ville Evrard, Pôle 93G03, Centre de Recherche Clinique, Neuilly-sur-Marne, France; La Fondation FondaMental, F-94010 Créteil, France
| | - Maud Rothärmel
- University Department of Psychiatry, Centre d'Excellence Thérapeutique - Institut de Psychiatrie - Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France; Inserm UMR-S 1237 PhIND, Presage team, GIP Cyceron, 14000 Caen, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rothärmel M, Quesada P, Husson T, Harika-Germaneau G, Nathou C, Guehl J, Dalmont M, Opolczynski G, Miréa-Grivel I, Millet B, Gérardin E, Compère V, Dollfus S, Jaafari N, Bénichou J, Thill C, Guillin O, Moulier V. The priming effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on clinical response to electroconvulsive therapy in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study. Psychol Med 2023; 53:2060-2071. [PMID: 34579796 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721003810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, due to response delay and cognitive impairment, ECT remains an imperfect treatment. Compared to ECT, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is less effective at treating severe depression, but has the advantage of being quick, easy to use, and producing almost no side effects. In this study, our objective was to assess the priming effect of rTMS sessions before ECT on clinical response in patients with TRD. METHODS In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, 56 patients with TRD were assigned to active or sham rTMS before ECT treatment. Five sessions of active/sham neuronavigated rTMS were administered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (20 Hz, 90% resting motor threshold, 20 2 s trains with 60-s intervals, 800 pulses/session) before ECT (which was active for all patients) started. Any relative improvements were then compared between both groups after five ECT sessions, in order to assess the early response to treatment. RESULTS After ECT, the active rTMS group exhibited a significantly greater relative improvement than the sham group [43.4% (28.6%) v. 25.4% (17.2%)]. The responder rate in the active group was at least three times higher. Cognitive complaints, which were assessed using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, were higher in the sham rTMS group compared to the active rTMS group, but this difference was not corroborated by cognitive tests. CONCLUSIONS rTMS could be used to enhance the efficacy of ECT in patients with TRD. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02830399.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maud Rothärmel
- University Department of Psychiatry, Centre d'Excellence Thérapeutique- Institut de Psychiatrie-Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France
| | - Pierre Quesada
- University Department of Psychiatry, Centre d'Excellence Thérapeutique- Institut de Psychiatrie-Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France
| | - Thomas Husson
- University Department of Psychiatry, Centre d'Excellence Thérapeutique- Institut de Psychiatrie-Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France
- Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France
- INSERM U 1245 University of Rouen, Rouen, France
| | | | - Clément Nathou
- UNICAEN, ISTS, EA 7466, GIP Cyceron, Caen 14000, France
- CHU de Caen, Service de Psychiatrie adulte, Caen 14000, France
- UFR Santé UNICAEN, 2 rue des Rochambelles, Caen 14000, France
| | - Julien Guehl
- University Department of Psychiatry, Centre d'Excellence Thérapeutique- Institut de Psychiatrie-Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France
| | - Marine Dalmont
- University Department of Psychiatry, Centre d'Excellence Thérapeutique- Institut de Psychiatrie-Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France
- Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France
| | - Gaëlle Opolczynski
- University Department of Psychiatry, Centre d'Excellence Thérapeutique- Institut de Psychiatrie-Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France
| | - Iris Miréa-Grivel
- University Department of Psychiatry, Centre d'Excellence Thérapeutique- Institut de Psychiatrie-Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France
| | - Bruno Millet
- Department of Adult Psychiatry, boulevard de l'Hôpital, Hôpital Universitaire de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de, Paris 75013, France
| | - Emmanuel Gérardin
- Department of Neuroradiology, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France
| | - Vincent Compère
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France
| | - Sonia Dollfus
- UNICAEN, ISTS, EA 7466, GIP Cyceron, Caen 14000, France
- CHU de Caen, Service de Psychiatrie adulte, Caen 14000, France
- UFR Santé UNICAEN, 2 rue des Rochambelles, Caen 14000, France
| | | | - Jacques Bénichou
- Department of Biostatistics, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France
- INSERM U 1018, University of Rouen, Rouen, France
| | - Caroline Thill
- Department of Biostatistics, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France
| | - Olivier Guillin
- University Department of Psychiatry, Centre d'Excellence Thérapeutique- Institut de Psychiatrie-Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France
- Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France
- INSERM U 1245 University of Rouen, Rouen, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Normandie University, Rouen, France
| | - Virginie Moulier
- University Department of Psychiatry, Centre d'Excellence Thérapeutique- Institut de Psychiatrie-Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France
- EPS Ville Evrard, Unité de Recherche Clinique, Neuilly-sur-Marne, France
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Vellieux G, Apartis E, Degos V, Fossati P, Navarro V. Effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy in Lance-Adams syndrome. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:647-649. [PMID: 36935000 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Geoffroy Vellieux
- Paris Brain Institute, ICM, Inserm, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France; AP-HP, Epilepsy Unit, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Apartis
- Paris Brain Institute, ICM, Inserm, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France; AP-HP, Neurophysiology Department, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Degos
- AP-HP, Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France; Clinical Research Group 29, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Fossati
- Paris Brain Institute, ICM, Inserm, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France; AP-HP, Psychiatry Department, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Navarro
- Paris Brain Institute, ICM, Inserm, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France; AP-HP, Epilepsy Unit, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
A Retrospective Study of Postictal Suppression during Electroconvulsive Therapy. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11051440. [PMID: 35268529 PMCID: PMC8911063 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11051440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but its response remains partial. Identifying useful indicators to guide decision making for treatment and improve clinical response remains a major issue. The objective of the present retrospective study was to determine if clinical response—early (after 5 ECT sessions) or longer-term (after 12 ECT sessions)—was associated with postictal suppression during the first ECT course and/or with postictal suppression frequency during the whole ECT course. Methods: in a retrospective study, the data of 42 patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression and receiving at least 5 ECT sessions were collected. Two sessions per week of bitemporal brief-pulse ECT sessions were administered to patients. Each of the electroencephalography (EEG) recordings were assessed to determine the presence of postictal suppression. Results: the postictal suppression from the first ECT session predicted a better long-term clinical response (after 12 ECT sessions), but not early clinical response (after only 5 ECT sessions). The postictal suppression frequency was associated with neither the short- nor the long-term clinical response. In addition, postictal suppression and short-term cognitive performances were not associated. Conclusions: this EEG indicator is clinically useful if it appears in the first ECT sessions, but it is no longer relevant in the following sessions.
Collapse
|
7
|
Ermis C, Aydin B, Kucukguclu S, Yurt A, Renshaw PF, Yildiz A. Association Between Anterior Cingulate Cortex Neurochemical Profile and Clinical Remission After Electroconvulsive Treatment in Major Depressive Disorder: A Longitudinal 1H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study. J ECT 2021; 37:263-269. [PMID: 33840802 DOI: 10.1097/yct.0000000000000766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to assess anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) neurochemical profile of patients with unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) before and after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) by using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). METHOD Using 1H-MRS, the metabolite levels of choline, glutamate + glutamine (Glx), myo-inositol, N-acetylaspartate, and total creatine were measured in ACC before and after 4-week ECT. The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was implemented by blind raters to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment. Electroconvulsive therapy-remitter (ER) and nonremitter groups were compared using the 1-way repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS Thirty patients with unipolar MDD (aged 41.3 ± 10.0 years, 66.7% female) were included in the study. The ER group (n = 16, 53.3%) and NR group did not differ regarding baseline Global Assessment of Functioning and MADRS scores. At the end of 4-week ECT treatment, results did not suggest any significant difference for metabolite levels in ACC. When compared with the NR group, the ER group had higher baseline levels of Glx (8.8 ± 1.8 vs 6.3 ± 2.0, P = 0.005) and total creatine (5.3 ± 0.6 vs 4.7 ± 0.5, P = 0.010). In addition, elevated baseline Glx (r = -0.68, P = 0.002) was associated with lower MADRS scores at the end treatment. Finally, the change in Glx levels was correlated with change in MADRS scores after ECT (r = 0.47, P = 0.049). LIMITATIONS Modest sample size and 1H-MRS at 1.5 Tesla are limitations of the study. CONCLUSIONS Results suggested that Glx levels could be a predictor of remission. Studies with larger samples should explore neurochemical correlates of ECT in unipolar MDD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cagatay Ermis
- From the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Izmir
| | - Burc Aydin
- Mehmet Akif Inan Training and Research Hospital, Sanliurfa
| | - Semih Kucukguclu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine
| | - Aysegul Yurt
- Department of Medical Physics, Dokuz Eylul University, Health Sciences Institute, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | - Aysegul Yildiz
- Department of Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sartorius A. Is seizure termination a key? Brain Stimul 2021; 14:1089-1090. [PMID: 34329796 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Sartorius
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Square J 5, D-68159, Mannheim, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sackeim HA, Dibué M, Bunker MT, Rush AJ. The Long and Winding Road of Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Challenges in Developing an Intervention for Difficult-to-Treat Mood Disorders. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2020; 16:3081-3093. [PMID: 33364761 PMCID: PMC7751788 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s286977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy System has been studied for more than 20 years in patients with severe, treatment-resistant, chronic mood disorder, i.e., difficult-to-treat depression (DTD). This review distills some of the implications of this research for future therapeutic trials in this population. METHODS A narrative review is provided on VNS in DTD. Protocols for a new, large, sham-controlled trial and a global, longitudinal observational study are described. RESULTS Following encouraging results in open studies, a randomized, masked, sham-controlled trial of VNS for DTD failed to demonstrate an effect on the primary outcome. The negative results may have been partly due to inadequate treatment duration (10 weeks). In long-term observational studies, adjunctive VNS, combined with treatment-as-usual (VNS+TAU), was administered to more than 1100 DTD patients and compared with TAU alone in more than 400 patients. VNS+TAU had superior antidepressant effects, but maximal symptom reduction was often observed after 12 months or longer of stimulation. VNS+TAU had also marked superiority in durability of benefit. Sustained levels of symptom reduction below the traditional cutoff for response (i.e. < 50%) were associated with improved quality of life. LIMITATIONS Most comparisons of VNS+TAU and TAU were derived from observational, open label studies. CONCLUSION The history of VNS in DTD has implications for interventional studies in this population, and perhaps other chronic medical disorders. The slow onset of benefit with VNS necessitates considerably longer controlled observation periods to establish efficacy. Durability of benefit should be routinely incorporated in efficacy assessment. New outcome metrics are needed to both categorically identify clinically meaningful benefit and to integrate information on symptom burden over time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harold A Sackeim
- Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maxine Dibué
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Medical Affairs Europe, LivaNova Deutschland GmbH, Munich, Germany
| | | | - A John Rush
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Texas Tech University, Permian Basin, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|