Electroconvulsive therapy and cognitive functions in treatment-resistant depression

Bodnar, Anna; Krzywotulski, Milosz; Lewandowska, Anna; Chłopocka-Woźniak, M; Bartkowska-Śniatkowska, Alicja; Michalak, Michał; Rybakowski, Janusz

doi:10.3109/15622975.2015.1091501

Cited by 51 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our results are in accordance with the majority of recent studies showing stability of cognitive performance as well as improvements in processing speed with ECT in the short-term (baseline to end of index) and long-term (after 6-months) (22, 25, 47, 49, 50). Semkovska, Bodnar, and Fernie reported significant improvement in cognition at varying time points after ECT completion (2 weeks (22), 3 months (50), and 6 months (25) respectively).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Here, we also show that improvements in processing speed and attention may be at least partly attributable to practice effects. Only acute adverse effects of ECT on verbal memory and executive function (specifically inhibition) after two sessions of ECT were observed; unlike some other studies these effects were not present after the index series was completed or at the 6-month follow-up (22, 50). In the current study, ECT did not have a long-term adverse effect on cognition and actually showed improvements in some aspects of cognitive function.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 62%

“…Semkovska, Bodnar, and Fernie reported significant improvement in cognition at varying time points after ECT completion (2 weeks (22), 3 months (50), and 6 months (25) respectively). These studies reporting improvements, however, did not assess control subjects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Short- and Long-term Cognitive Outcomes in Patients With Major Depression Treated With Electroconvulsive Therapy

Vasavada

Leaver

Njau

et al. 2017

J ECT

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives The risk of cognitive impairment is a concern for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Here, we evaluate the acute, short-term and long-term effects of ECT on tests of processing speed, executive function, memory, and attention. Methods Forty-four MDD patients receiving ECT (61% right unilateral (RUL), 39% mixed RUL-bitemporal, left UL and/or bitemporal lead placement underwent a cognitive battery prior to ECT (T1), after 2 sessions (T2), and at the end of the index (T3). Thirty-two patients returned for a 6-month follow-up (T4). Thirty-three controls were assessed at two times ~4 weeks apart (C1 and C2). Results At baseline, patients showed deficits in processing speed, executive function and memory compared to controls. Including depression severity and lead placement covariates, linear mixed model analysis showed significant improvement in only processing speed between T1 and T3 and between T1 and T4 in patients. An acute decline in attention and verbal memory was observed at T2, but performance returned to baseline levels at T3. Longitudinal cognitive outcomes did not differ in patients defined as ECT responders/non-responders. Limitations Episodic memory was not measured and medications were not controlled between T3 and T4. Controls also showed improvements in processing speed, suggesting practice effects for some measures. Conclusions In this naturalistic ECT treatment study, results show that the initiation of ECT may transiently affect memory and executive function, but cognition is largely unaffected during and post ECT. While some functions might improve, others will at least remain stable up to 6-months following the ECT index.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 62%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Short- and Long-term Cognitive Outcomes in Patients With Major Depression Treated With Electroconvulsive Therapy

Vasavada

Leaver

Njau

et al. 2017

J ECT

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Improved neurocognitive function after ECT has been demonstrated by others 15 days (3), 1 month (30), and 3 months (31) after cessation of treatment. At 6 months after ECT, Sackeim et al (2) reported cognitive improvement in most domains assessed, with the notable exception of processing speed, which was still compromised.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Maintained Improvement of Neurocognitive Function in Major Depressive Disorders 6 Months after ECT

Mohn

Rund

2016

Front. Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Both impaired and improved cognitive function after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients may occur. We have previously found improved cognitive function 6 weeks after ECT in this group. The aim of this study was to report 6-month follow-up results from the same prospective project monitoring cognitive effects of ECT. Thirty-one patients with MDD were assessed with the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), the Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ), and the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale prior to, 6 weeks, and 6 months after ECT. Compared to baseline, the speed of processing, attention/vigilance, and reasoning/problem solving test results were significantly improved. The depression score was significantly reduced. There were no changes in subjective memory complaint. There was no significant relationship between the EMQ and the MCCB subtests, but a significant correlation between current depression level and the EMQ. Six months after ECT the cognitive improvement reported at 6-week follow-up was maintained and extended. The corresponding decrease in depressive symptoms and stability in subjectively reported memory complaints suggest that the antidepressant effects of ECT do not occur at the expense of cognitive function.

show abstract

“…Future studies using a longitudinal design having a large number of subjects and psychological and cognitive assessments will be required. Moreover, previous studies showed that cognitive functions were declined immediately after ECT than baseline (Bodnar et al, 2016), but did not change significantly 6 months or 12 months after ECT (Nordanskog, Larsson, Larsson, & Johanson, 2014). Future longitudinal design research with a longer observation period over one year is needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can We Find Any Sustained Neurofunctional Alteration in Remitted Depressive Patients with a History of Modified Electroconvulsive Therapy?

Saito¹,

Fujihara²,

Kasagi³

et al. 2017

OJD

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background and Aim: Recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have revealed structural and functional differences in the human brain before and after an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) series in patients with depression. The hippocampus is one of the well-documented subcortical areas that show an increase in cortical volume following an ECT series. Moreover, some resting-state functional MRI studies have shown that an ECT series alters the connectivities of the hippocampus with several brain areas. However, it remains unknown whether ECT can induce some sustained neurofunctional alterations in the human brain. Methods: In this study of the depressive patients with and without a history of modified ECT (N = 5 and 9, respectively) using a cross-sectional design, we investigated the functional connectivity between the left and right hippocampi in terms of blood-oxygenation-level dependent signal changes with time by resting-state functional MRI. Results: Voxel-based morphometry showed no significant structural differences in hippocampal volume between the ECT and non-ECT groups. The ECT group showed a significantly lower functional connectivity between the same brain areas than the non-ECT group (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Although their clinical significance remains unclear, our results suggest that an ECT series induces a sustained neurofunctional alteration in the human brain.

show abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy and cognitive functions in treatment-resistant depression

Cited by 51 publications

References 13 publications

Short- and Long-term Cognitive Outcomes in Patients With Major Depression Treated With Electroconvulsive Therapy

Short- and Long-term Cognitive Outcomes in Patients With Major Depression Treated With Electroconvulsive Therapy

Maintained Improvement of Neurocognitive Function in Major Depressive Disorders 6 Months after ECT

Can We Find Any Sustained Neurofunctional Alteration in Remitted Depressive Patients with a History of Modified Electroconvulsive Therapy?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About