The purpose of this study is to determine functional and structural changes in brain following treatment of severe depression with electroconvulsive therapy with correlation to clinical outcome. Our hypothesis is that there are state-dependent changes in functional connectivity within specific neurocircuits systems, as well as structural plasticity changes in hippocampus, when recovering from depression.
The study is a prospective, within-subject, observational follow-up study in individuals with depression who receive electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)at a psychiatric clinic. We will use a consecutive sampling method and patient referred for ECT by their psychiatrist will be screened for inclusion and asked for participation. Both in - and outpatients can be included. At three occasions (before treatment, after four week and after three months) patients will be assessed with clinical ratings, cognitive tests, functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging and biomarkers for cell proliferation.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
50
Linkoeping University, Linkoeping University Hospital
Linköping, Östergötland County, Sweden
RECRUITINGMeasures of hippocampal volume assessed by structural MRI
Time frame: Three months
fMRI BOLD resting state functional connectivity
Time frame: 3 month
fMRI BOLD responses during execution of emotional and reward processing tasks
Time frame: 3 months
Biomarkers of cell proliferation
Time frame: 3 months
Relation between neurobiological changes and clinical and cognitive outcome
Time frame: Three months
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