title: Effect of etomidate versus thiopental on major depressive disorder in electroconvulsive therapy, a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the therapeutic effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on major depressive disorder is widely investigated, there is a gap in literature regarding the possible effects of the medications used for induction of anesthesia in ECT. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first randomized double-blind clinical trial comparing the effect of etomidate and sodium thiopental on the depression symptoms in patients who have received ECT.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants of this study are 60 adult patients with major depressive disorder who were referred for ECT. They were randomly allocated into 1 of the 2 groups. One group received etomidate, and the other group received sodium thiopental, as medication for induction of anesthesia. All the patients received bilateral ECT. The outcomes measures included the Beck Depression Inventory score, seizure duration, and recovery duration after induction of anesthesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sex ratio and mean age were not different between the 2 groups. Linear regression analysis showed that etomidate decreased the depression score more than did sodium thiopental. Seizure duration in all of the sessions in the etomidate group was significantly higher than that of sodium thiopental group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, etomidate may improve major depressive disorder more than sodium thiopental in patients who are receiving ECT.
authors: Anesthesiology Department, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran.
authors: Mohammad Hassan
authors: MH
authors: Abdollahi
authors: Amir
authors: A
authors: Izadi
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Hajiesmaeili
authors: Ahmad
authors: A
authors: Ghanizadeh
authors: Ghasem
authors: G
authors: Dastjerdi
authors: Habib Allah
authors: HA
authors: Hosseini
authors: Mohammad Mehdi
authors: MM
authors: Ghiamat
authors: Hamid Reza
authors: HR
authors: Abbasi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005045:Etomidate / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013874:Thiopental / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D013874:Thiopental; D005045:Etomidate