Effect of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Serum Serotonin Level in Patients with Treatment–Resistant Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract

Background

This study aimed to determine the effect of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) on serum serotonin level of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods

In this experimental study, 36 patients (age: 20–65 years old) with MDD were allocated to ECT group (n = 21) and non-ECT group (n = 15). Serum serotonin level of the ECT group was measured before ECT, 15 minutes and two, six, and 24 hours after the first session, and 24 hours and 30 days after the last ECT session. Measurements were performed at the time of admission and one month after hospitalisation in the non-ECT group. Data analysed with t-tests, repeated measures analysis of variance by SPSS16.

Results

The mean serotonin levels of the two groups were significantly different 24 hours and 30 days after the last session of ECT (P = 0.048 and P = 0.04, respectively). The difference of mean serotonin levels in the ECT group before & 15 min after ECT (P = 0.044) before & 6 hour after ECT (P = 0.015), before & 24 hour after ECT (P = 0.007), before & 24 hour after last ECT (0.002) was meaningful.

Conclusion

Altogether, our results showed that serum serotonin levels significantly increase following ECT in MDD patients.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.