Mechanism of Action of Electroconvulsive Therapy (MoA-ECT)

Mass General Brigham

Status

Enrolling

Conditions

Bipolar Depression

Unipolar Depression

Treatments

Device: Electroconvulsive Therapy

Study type

Observational

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04059952

2012P001430

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is an observational neuroimaging study assessing the effects of ECT on the brains of patients with unipolar and bipolar depression.

Full description

This project aims to use functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI) to study patients with unipolar and bipolar depression receiving ECT. Patients will be scanned before and after a full course of ECT and clinical measures for depression severity and memory will be obtained at the same times.The project has the following aims and hypothesis: (1) to determine the therapeutic antidepressant mechanism of action of ECT at the circuit level (2) to determine the mechanism of action of iatrogenic amnesia caused by ECT at the circuit level (3) to study the use of fcMRI as a state biomarker for depression (4) to study the use of fcMRI as a predictor of response for depression.

Enrollment

136 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 65 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Males and Females Between Ages of 18 and 65
Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder without Psychotic Features or Bipolar I/II
Requiring ECT Treatment as Part of Psychiatric Care

Exclusion criteria

Comorbid diagnoses of Major Depressive Disorder with Psychotic Features, Schizoaffective Disorder, Schizophrenia or Dementia
History of Psychosis
Substance Use Disorder (Abuse or Dependence) with Active Use Within Last 6 Months
Severe or Unstable Medical Illness
Medical Contraindication to Anesthesia or ECT (e.g., Recent Myocardial Infarction)