title: [Electroconvulsive therapy and its mechanism of action].
abstract: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is known as an effective treatment for some depressive disorders. Nevertheless ECT continues to be a subject of controversy. The absence of a unifying theory for its mechanisms of action explains the mistrust about ECT. The aim of this article is to review the literature about ECT and to propose a synthesis concerning its mechanisms of action. At the present time, the most reliable hypothesis suggests selective activations of central serotonergic and dopaminergic systems on the one hand, and a direct stimulation of the neuroendocrine neurons on the other hand.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Psychiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège, Domaine Universitaire du Sart Tilman.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Couvreur
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ansseau
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D009489:Neurosecretion
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides
vernacular_title: L'électroconvulsivothérapie et ses mécanismes d'actions.