Comparing the Neurocognitive Effects of Right Unilateral Ultra-Brief Pulse Electroconvulsive Therapy and Magnetic Seizure Therapy for the Treatment of Major Depressive Episode

Abstract

Background: Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is under investigation as a treatment for adults with major depression. Previous research has suggested that MST has antidepressant efficacy comparable to that of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), but with greater cognitive safety. The objective of the study was to compare the neurocognitive outcomes of patients receiving an acute course of MST with the outcomes of those receiving ECT for the treatment of major depressive episode.

Methods: This was a between-subjects, double-masked, randomized, multicenter clinical trial. Seventy-three participants with a severe major depressive episode were enrolled and randomly assigned to treatment with MST (n = 35) or ultra-brief pulse right unilateral ECT (n = 38). The main outcome was change in performance from baseline to the end of acute treatment on multiple neurocognitive measures.

Results: Compared with patients who received ECT, patients who received MST had superior cognitive outcomes up to 72 hours posttreatment. Specifically, following MST treatment, there was significant improvement in fine motor dexterity (p = .017) and no significant change in cognitive domains of attention, verbal fluency, executive function, or verbal learning and memory. In contrast, following treatment with ECT, patients demonstrated significantly worse performance on measures of verbal fluency (p < .001), executive function (p = .038), and verbal memory retention (p < .001). Autobiographical memory consistency decreased significantly following treatment with both ECT (p < .001) and MST, although the magnitude of change was greater for ECT.

Conclusions: The study findings confirm previous work and provide new evidence supporting the enhanced cognitive safety of MST relative to ECT. Future research on MST is warranted to optimize its application to individuals with neuropsychiatric illnesses across the life span.

Keywords: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT); Magnetic seizure therapy (MST); Major depression; Memory; Neurocognitive; Neuromodulation.