Effect of electroconvulsive therapy on neural response to affective pictures: A randomized, sham-controlled fMRI study

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for severe depression but its neurocognitive mechanisms are unclear. This randomized, sham-controlled functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study explored the effects of a single ECT on neural response to affective pictures. Twenty-seven patients with major depressive disorder were randomized to a single active ECT (N  = 15) or sham (N = 12) session in a double-blind, parallel-group design. On the following day, patients underwent fMRI during which they viewed pleasant, unpleasant and neutral pictures and performed a free recall test after the scan.

Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - June 8, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: KW Miskowiak, J Macoveanu, MB J ørgensen, CV Ott, MM Støttrup, HM Jensen, A Jørgensen, CJ Harmer, OB Paulson, HR Siebner, LV Kessing Source Type: research