Publication
Title
Improvement of psychomotor retardation after electroconvulsive therapy is related to decreased IL-6 levels
Author
Abstract
Background: Prior studies suggest that IL-6 may be involved in the pathophysiology of psychomotor symptoms in depression. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as yet the most effective biological treatment of severe depression, is known to improve psychomotor functioning, while recent studies have shown a decrease in the elevated IL-6 levels of depressed patients following ECT. Objectives: This study investigates whether the improvement in psychomotor functions in patients with depression after ECT is related to changes in IL-6 levels. Methods: Peripheral IL-6 was quantified and the severity of psychomotor agitation and retardation determined using the CORE assessment of psychomotor symptoms in 62 patients with a (unipolar or bipolar) depressive episode within one week before and within one week after their course of ECT. Results: IL-6 levels had decreased significantly following ECT and both psychomotor retardation and agitation had improved. The decrease in IL-6 levels was related to the improvement of psychomotor retardation, with post hoc analysis revealing that higher baseline IL-6 levels positively correlated with higher psychomotor retardation scores. Conclusion: With this study, we provide the first evidence that the improvement of psychomotor retardation after ECT for depression is related to the immunomodulatory properties of the treatment, most specifically the decrease in IL-6 levels.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology and biological psychiatry. - Oxford
Publication
Oxford : 2021
ISSN
0278-5846
DOI
10.1016/J.PNPBP.2020.110146
Volume/pages
105 (2021) , p. 1-7
Article Reference
110146
ISI
000600415100032
Pubmed ID
33091545
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Preventing Relapse After Successful ECT for Depression– A randomized controlled trial on lithium as add-on to personalized maintenance ECT.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 03.02.2021
Last edited 25.11.2024
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