A placebo-controlled evaluation of vasopressin for ECT-induced memory impairment

Vasopressin may be involved in normal memory functions and may alleviate certain memory impairments. In this study, the usefulness of vasopressin to relieve electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced memory impairment was evaluated using a placebo-controlled, random assignment, double-blind design. Patients were 33 depressives receiving bilateral ECT. Vasopressin, in a nasal spray, was administered q.i.d. from the first through the fifth ECT. Extensive memory testing evaluated both retrograde and anterograde amnesia; ratings of depression and patient ratings of subjective memory complaints were also obtained. Results did not show statistically significant evidence of benefit from vasopressin, though a number of comparisons were in the predicted direction. The role of vasopressin in reducing memory impairment of various types remains to be elucidated.