Effects of electroconvulsive therapy on plasma levels of neuroactive steroids in inpatients with major depression

Abstract

Objective. Neuroactive steroids (NAS) are neuroactive molecules that have been shown to be associated with various psychiatric disorders. There are some inconclusive findings about the alteration in neuroactive steroid levels aft er the treatment of depression and ECT is still one of the most effective treatment choices for treatment resistant depression. Thus, we aimed to investigate the alterations of several NAS in plasma aft er ECT in inpatients with treatment resistant depression. Methods. In this study we enrolled 19 consecutive patients, 12 female and 7 male inpatients with major depression, who were not responding to medication, for whom ECT was Indicated, and were not taking any antidepressant treatment for at least a week prior to enrolment. We measured plasma progesterone, testosterone, pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and estradiol levels before and aft er ECT. Results. The mean age of the participants was 38.3 +/- 9.4 years. The mean plasma neuroactive steroid levels were insignificant between baseline and post ECT in patients with treatment resistant depression. Conclusions. ECT does not seem to influence plasma neuroactive steroid levels in patients with treatment resistant depression. Additionally, plasma dehydroepiandrosterone and pregnenolone levels might be associated with improvement in depressive symptoms aft er ECT.