The neurobiological basis of cognitive side effects of electroconvulsive therapy

Decades of research have consistently demonstrated the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), but its clinical use remains somewhat restricted because of its cognitive side effects. The aim of this systematic review is to comprehensively sum...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Bassa, Adriana, Sagués, Teresa, Porta-Casteràs, Daniel|||0000-0002-3921-3607, Serra, Pilar, Martínez Amorós, Erika|||0000-0002-6718-7346, Palao, Diego|||0000-0002-3323-6568, Cano, Marta|||0000-0003-0675-9483, Cardoner, Narcís|||0000-0001-9633-0888
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:252023
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/252023
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.3390/brainsci11101273
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Electroconvulsive therapy
ECT
Memory
Cognitive impairment
Side effects
MDD
Biomarkers
Hippocampus
NSE
S-100
Descripción
Sumario:Decades of research have consistently demonstrated the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), but its clinical use remains somewhat restricted because of its cognitive side effects. The aim of this systematic review is to comprehensively summarize current evidence assessing potential biomarkers of ECT-related cognitive side effects. Based on our systematic search of human studies indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge, a total of 29 studies evaluating patients with MDD undergoing ECT were reviewed. Molecular biomarkers studies did not consistently identify concentration changes in plasma S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), or Aβ peptides significantly associated with cognitive performance after ECT. Importantly, these findings suggest that ECT-related cognitive side effects cannot be explained by mechanisms of neural cell damage. Notwithstanding, S-100b protein and Aβ40 peptide concentrations, as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphisms, have been suggested as potential predictive biomarkers of cognitive dysfunction after ECT. In addition, recent advances in brain imaging have allowed us to identify ECT-induced volumetric and functional changes in several brain structures closely related to memory performance such as the hippocampus. We provide a preliminary framework to further evaluate neurobiological cognitive vulnerability profiles of patients with MDD treated with ECT.