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Plasma noradrenaline response to electroconvulsive therapy in depressive illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

C. B. Kelly  and
S. J. Cooper
C. B. Kelly*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, Queens University of Belfast
S. J. Cooper
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, Queens University of Belfast
*
Dr C. B. Kelly. Department of Mental Health, Whitla Medical Building, Queen's University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL
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Abstract

Background

Abnormalities of catecholaminergic function have been hypothesised to cause depressive illness. Plasma noradrenaline can be used as a marker of central noradrenergic activity. It is of interest to examine the change in resting plasma noradrenaline in patients with depressive illness over a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and relate this to their clinical state.

Method

Patients referred for ECT who suffered from DSM – III – R major depressive disorder or dysthymia were recruited. Blood samples were taken before and after each treatment, during a course of ECT, to measure plasma noradrenaline and Cortisol. Clinical ratings were carried out weekly during the course of ECT.

Results

Plasma noradrenaline fell significantly in those patients with melancholic/psychotic depressions but increased in those with non-melancholic depressive illness. There was a strong trend indicating that a fall in plasma noradrenaline was associated with improvement in depression ratings in the melancholic/psychotic patients only.

Conclusions

Electroconvlusive therapy decreases plasma noradrenaline in melancholic/psychotic depressive illness and this shows a trend associated with clinical improvement.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 171 , Issue 2 , August 1997 , pp. 182 - 186
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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