Electroconvulsive therapy changes key areas of the brain that play roles in memory and emotion

Scientists know that depression affects the brain, but they still don’t know why some people respond to treatment and others do not. Now UCLA researchers have shown for the first time in a large cohort of patients that electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, changes certain areas of the brain that play a role in how people feel, learn and respond to positive and negative environmental factors. The team imaged the hippocampus and amygdala in patients before, during and after undergoing ECT — also known as shock treatment — and compared those images to scans of healthy brains. The scientists also showed that in patients with major depression, as the hippocampus increases in size, mood improved and parts of the hippocampus and amygdala change more with treatment. The findings provide vital clues that could help doctors identify patients who will respond well to treatment. They would also help spare patients who won’t respond to treatment from taking drugs that ultimately won’t work for them, said Katherine Narr, a senior author of the study and a UCLA associate professor of neurology. Major depression affects 350 million people each year and it affects not only those who suffer but also their families, the health care system and the economy. “Major depression affects all ages, races and ethnic groups, and it has serious consequences on people’s family lives and work,” Narr said. “People with depression also are at higher risk for suicide, which on average accounts ...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news