title: Prolactin levels after bilateral and unilateral ECT.
abstract: Serial post-ictal serum prolactin levels were obtained over a period of one hour after bilateral or unilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in six patients. Bilateral ECT yielded significantly higher mean post-ictal prolactin levels than unilateral ECT at the 15, 20, 30 and 60 minute sampling times. These findings demonstrate a greater hypothalamic-stimulating effect of bilateral than unilateral ECT, and may explain the reported therapeutic advantage of bilateral over unilateral ECT in the treatment of patients with melancholia.
mesh_terms: D003702:Delusions / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin