title: Combined Use of Thyroid Hormone and ECT.
abstract: Neurocognitive deficits, including acute confusion and memory impairment, remain important effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Laboratory and clinical research demonstrates interactions among neurocognitive functioning, the hypothalmic-pituitary-thyroid axis, depressive mood, and ECT. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that exogenous triiodothyronine (T(3)) administered to animals receiving electroconvulsive shock (ECS) protects against ECS-related amnesia and accelerates the "antidepressant effects" of ECS, possibly due to alterations in catecholamine and/or indoleamine neurotransmission. Clinical data suggest that combined treatment with T(3) and ECT results in increased clinical efficacy of ECT and diminished neurocognitive side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A.
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Mareah C.
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Steketee
authors.forename: Amy L.
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Durr
authors.forename: Arthur J.
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Prange
authors.forename: Robert N.
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Golden