title: Electroconvulsive therapy-induced cortisol release after dexamethasone in depression.
abstract: ECT-induced cortisol release was distinctly seen, and fell along a course of ECT in each of 12 inpatient male melancholics (p = 0.00024, binomial), with dexamethasone given to diminish the elevated baseline cortisol levels typically seen in depression. Cortisol release dropped on average by 55% (p = 0.015), from 16.6 +/- 6.8 micrograms/dl (p = 0.000002) with the first ECT to 8.0 +/- 7.7 micrograms/dl (p = 0.000003) after 6 or more ECTs. The fall along the course was larger with unilateral ECT than bilateral ECT (p = 0.042), although significant regardless of electrode placement, suggesting that unilateral ECT tends to lose therapeutic impact along a course in comparison to bilateral ECT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oklahoma Medical School, Oklahoma City.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Swartz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone