Understanding how Electroconvulsive Therapy affects the brain
Mechanism of Action of Electroconvulsive Therapy
Massachusetts General Hospital · NCT04059952
This study looks at how Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) changes brain activity in people with unipolar and bipolar depression to see if it helps with their symptoms and affects their memory.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 136 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Massachusetts General Hospital (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Trial ID | NCT04059952 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study uses functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI) to assess the effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) on patients with unipolar and bipolar depression. Participants will undergo brain scans before and after a full course of ECT, while clinical measures of depression severity and memory will be collected at the same intervals. The study aims to uncover the therapeutic mechanisms of ECT, the causes of memory loss associated with it, and to evaluate fcMRI as a potential biomarker for depression and predictor of treatment response.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are males and females aged 18 to 65 diagnosed with unipolar or bipolar depression who require ECT as part of their psychiatric care.
Not a fit: Patients with comorbid psychotic disorders, severe medical illnesses, or contraindications to ECT will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance our understanding of ECT's effects on the brain, leading to improved treatment strategies for depression.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies using neuroimaging techniques to assess ECT have shown promising results, indicating that this approach is both relevant and potentially impactful.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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)
Where this trial is running
Boston, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Joan Camprodon, MD MPH PHD — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: DNN Inbox
- Email: mghdnn@mgh.harvard.edu
- Phone: 617-724-8780
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Unipolar Depression, Bipolar Depression, Electroconvulsive Therapy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging