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. 2014 Apr;129(4):303-11.
doi: 10.1111/acps.12150. Epub 2013 Jun 8.

Hippocampal volume in relation to clinical and cognitive outcome after electroconvulsive therapy in depression

P Nordanskog  1 , M R Larsson, E-M Larsson, A Johanson
Affiliations

Hippocampal volume in relation to clinical and cognitive outcome after electroconvulsive therapy in depression

P Nordanskog et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: In a previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study, we found a significant increase in hippocampal volume immediately after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients with depression. The aim of this study was to evaluate hippocampal volume up to 1 year after ECT and investigate its possible relation to clinical and cognitive outcome.

Method: Clinical and cognitive outcome in 12 in-patients with depression receiving antidepressive pharmacological treatment referred for ECT were investigated with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and a broad neuropsychological test battery within 1 week before and after ECT. The assessments were repeated 6 and 12 months after baseline in 10 and seven of these patients, respectively. Hippocampal volumes were measured on all four occasions with 3 Tesla MRI.

Results: Hippocampal volume returned to baseline during the follow-up period of 6 months. Neither the significant antidepressant effect nor the significant transient decrease in executive and verbal episodic memory tests after ECT could be related to changes in hippocampal volume. No persistent cognitive side effects were observed 1 year after ECT.

Conclusion: The immediate increase in hippocampal volume after ECT is reversible and is not related to clinical or cognitive outcome.

Keywords: cognition; depression; electroconvulsive therapy; hippocampus; longitudinal; magnetic resonance imaging.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Right and left hippocampal volume (mm3) within 1 week before and after ECT (A1 and A2) and after 6 and 12 months (A3 and A4).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Clinical ratings and self-ratings in mean score, using the Montgomery–Asberg Depressive Rating Scale within 1 week before and after ECT (A1 and A2) and after 6 and 12 months (A3 and A4).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Verbal episodic memory. Rey Auditory Learning Test (RAVLT). Mean score in stanine points. Reference interval –.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Executive functions. Trail Making Test B (TMT-B), Stroop Test and Verbal fluency. Mean score in stanine points. Reference interval –.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Processing speed. Digit Symbol and Digit Span; mean score in scale points, reference interval –. Trail Making Test A (TMT-A); mean score in stanine points, reference interval –.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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