Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Electroconvulsive Therapy01:30

Electroconvulsive Therapy

555
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early...
555
Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview01:24

Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview

483
Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as...
483

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Editorial.

Pharmacopsychiatry·2026
Same author

A Tribute to Prof. Jules Angst highlighting his Contributions to Clozapine.

Pharmacopsychiatry·2026
Same author

Consensus Guidelines for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Neuropsychopharmacology: Update 2026 - Pharmacokinetic, pharmacogenetic and clinical aspects.

Pharmacopsychiatry·2026
Same author

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of predictors of treatment effects.

Psychotherapy and psychosomatics·2026
Same author

A Structured Consent Framework for Research of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Advanced Dementia: Consent Process for the ECT-AD Trial.

The journal of ECT·2026
Same author

Exploring the Influence of Inflammation on the Pharmacokinetics of Antidepressants and Antipsychotics: A Systematic Review.

Current neuropharmacology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
04:51

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Published on: April 11, 2019

10.0K

Prolactin changes during electroconvulsive therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Georgios Schoretsanitis1, Mustafa Cicek2, Nandita Mathur1

  • 1The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Psychiatry Research, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, USA.

Journal of Psychiatric Research
|June 10, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) significantly increases prolactin levels compared to controls. These prolactin surges are more pronounced in women, patients receiving methohexital anesthesia, and those undergoing bilateral ECT.

More Related Videos

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
09:07

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Published on: August 15, 2017

12.5K
MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
08:20

MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder

Published on: August 11, 2015

14.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
04:51

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Published on: April 11, 2019

10.0K
Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
09:07

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Published on: August 15, 2017

12.5K
MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
08:20

MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder

Published on: August 11, 2015

14.4K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Early research indicated a prolactin surge associated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
  • This study systematically reviews and meta-analyzes existing data on prolactin level changes following ECT.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the effect of ECT on prolactin levels.
  • To explore factors influencing ECT-induced prolactin changes, including patient demographics and ECT parameters.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review and meta-analysis of six trials involving 109 ECT-treated patients and 74 controls.
  • Standard mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.
  • Subgroup analyses examined variations based on sex, anesthetics, ECT laterality, and dose.

Main Results:

  • ECT-treated patients exhibited significantly larger prolactin increases than controls (SMD = 0.89-1.03).
  • Prolactin increases were notably higher in patients premedicated with methohexital, women compared to men, and those receiving bilateral ECT versus unilateral ECT.
  • Meta-regression indicated a significant effect of age on prolactin changes.

Conclusions:

  • ECT consistently elevates prolactin levels.
  • Methohexital, female sex, and bilateral ECT administration are associated with greater prolactin increases.
  • The overall quality of included studies was poor, highlighting a need for more rigorous research.