Depressive Disorder, Major
Conditions
Keywords
ect, depression, homocysteine, mthfr genotype
Brief summary
Elevated homocysteine levels are associated with depression and cognitive impairment. When depression ameliorates due to treatment, homocysteine serum levels often normalize. Aim of the present study is to investigate, whether repeated ECT treatment leads to changes in homocysteine levels and if these changes are associated with the occurrence of cognitive impairment after ECS. 10 patients suffering from therapy-resistant depression shall be enrolled. Patients are treated with repeated ECT (three times the week). Before, directly after and one day after ECT treatment, blood samples are drawn and patients receive cognitive testing. Depressive symptomatology is checked with different rating scales.
Detailed description
BACKGROUND: Elevated homocysteine levels have been found in depressive disorders. The modulating effects of homocysteine on glutamatergic neurotransmission have been discussed to be an underlying cause of depression and can also lead to cognitive impairment and may facilitate seizures. Electroconvulsive therapy is the most effective treatment for depression, but often leads to cognitive impairments. HYPOTHESIS: Homocysteine levels normalize during rECT. This normalization is associated with the clinical improvement of depression. Short term changes in homocysteine levels (i.e. increase directly after ECT) may explain the cognitive impairments of the patients. METHOD: 10 patients with therapy-resistant depressive disorder are to be enrolled into the trial. Patients are treated with rECT, two to three times a week. Blood withdrawal and psychometric analysis will be performed before, directly after and one day after ECT treatment 1,4,7,10,(13). Necessity of further treatment will be checked after the first 6 ECTs.
Interventions
PROCEDUREECT treatment
Sponsors
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Key Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women aged 18 years or above * Diagnosis of major depressive disorder (according to DSM IV) * Secured therapy resistance (at least two trials with antidepressive medication of different classes for more then 4 weeks in adequate dosage) * Written, informed consent Key
Exclusion criteria
* Major neurological or other diseases * Current medication with antiepileptic drugs * History of major head trauma * Any medical condition not allowing anesthesia
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Homocysteine serum levels | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Cognitive functioning (e.g. concentration, memory tasks, etc.) | — |
| Depressive symptomatology | — |
| Measures of Seizure quality (duration, threshold, postictal suppression index, ...) | — |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed