Effect of Stimulus Energy on Electroconvulsive Therapy-Induced Prolactin Release.
This study was undertaken to examine the effect of stimulus energy on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced prolactin (PRL) release. Patients undergoing a course of right unilateral or bilateral ECT were studied during two consecutive treatments. The order of high- and low-energy ECT was counterbalanced between the two treatments. A multivariate repeated-measures analysis of variance with seizure duration within each condition (high/low energy ECT) used as a covariate showed that seizure duration was not significantly different between conditions, but was significantly related to PRL release. However, PRL increase in response to high-energy ECT was significantly higher compared with low-energy ECT. These results indicate that in addition to the previously demonstrated relationship between electrode placement and ECT-induced PRL response, PRL release also varies as a function of stimulus energy. The implications of the hypothesis that this neuroendocrine response could serve as an indication that an effective stimulus has been delivered are discussed.
Zis
Athanasios P.
AP
Division of Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
McGarvey
Kathleen A.
KA
Clark
Campbell M.
CM
Lam
Raymond W.
RW
Patrick
Lance
L
Adams
Sara A.
SA