Increase in hippocampal volume after electroconvulsive therapy in patients with depression: a volumetric magnetic resonance imaging study.
BACKGROUND
Major depression has traditionally been regarded as a neurochemical disease, but findings of a decreased hippocampal volume in patients with depression have turned the pathophysiological focus toward impairments in structural plasticity. The mechanisms of action of the most effective antidepressive treatment, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), still remains elusive, but recent animal research has provided evidence for a cell proliferative effect in the hippocampus. The aim of this prospective study was to determine if hippocampal volume changes after ECT in patients with depression.


METHODS
Twelve patients with depression and ongoing antidepressive pharmacological treatment were investigated with clinical ratings and 3 T magnetic resonance imaging within 1 week before and after the ECT series. Each hippocampus was manually outlined on coronal slices, and the volume was calculated.


RESULTS
The left as well as the right hippocampal volume increased significantly after ECT.


CONCLUSIONS
The hippocampal volume increases after ECT, supporting the hypothesis that hippocampus may play a central role in the treatment of depression.
Nordanskog
Pia
P
Department of Psychiatry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Dahlstrand
Ulf
U
Larsson
Magnus R
MR
Larsson
Elna-Marie
EM
Knutsson
Linda
L
Johanson
Aki
A
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D055815:Young Adult
D000928:Antidepressive Agents