S100 and impact of ECT on depression and cognition.
OBJECTIVE
The main side effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are in the realm of cognition. The S100-beta is a calcium-binding protein that is expressed by astrocytes in the central nervous system during depression and has been suggested to modulate the impact of ECT on cognition.


METHODS
Serum samples of S100-beta were taken before and 1 and 3 hours after each ECT session in 12 depressed patients (mean age, 54 years), treated with bilateral ECT twice weekly (mean, 6 sessions). Measures of depression (Symptom Checklist-90 depression dimension) and a neurocognitive test battery yielding 3 domains of general cognition, memory, and subjective cognitive impairment were administered 1 day before and 5 and 30 days post-ECT.


RESULTS
Electroconvulsive therapy was associated with a reduction in depression and subjective cognitive impairment at 5 and 30 days post-ECT. Electroconvulsive therapy was associated with a small but significant rise in S100-beta 1 hour post-ECT (adjusted B = 0.013, P = 0.035), with a directionally similar but reduced effect size at 3 hours post-ECT (adjusted B = 0.010, P = 0.10). Higher level of S100-beta at baseline was associated with poorer memory function at 5 and 30 days of follow-up (adjusted B per tertile group increase, 0.38, P = 0.013) but also with less subjective cognitive impairment (B = -28.2, P < 0.001) and less depression at follow-up (B = -15, P = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
The S100-beta at baseline may be a marker predicting and possibly mediating the differential impact of ECT on cognition and depression.
Arts
Baer
B
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. b.arts@np.unimaas.nl
Peters
Maarten
M
Ponds
Rudolf
R
Honig
Adriaan
A
Menheere
Paul
P
van Os
Jim
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins; C579160:S100B protein, human