Effects of ECT on sleep and CSF biogenic amines in affective illness

The effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on sleep and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were studied in 11 male patients suffering from major depressive disorders severe enough to require ECT. Total sleep time and sleep efficiency index increased significantly after ECT, while the number of awakenings, the ratio wake/total sleep time, and the time of intermittent awake decreased, indicating that sleep continuity improved after treatment. Sleep architecture was also favorably influenced by ECT as shown by a significant increase in time of stage 2 and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM latency and REM density also normalized after ECT. CSF 5HIAA increased significantly after ECT, but this was not the case for CSF HVA. These results demonstrate a positive effect of ECT on sleep EEG and CSF neurochemical markers for depressive illness.