Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 19, 2025

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
Published on: April 11, 2019
Epinephrine levels decrease in responders after electroconvulsive therapy
Christoph Pollak1, Hannah Benedictine Maier2, Nicole Moschny1
1Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
Abstract:
We examined potential changes in catecholamine plasma levels and cortisol serum levels in 29 patients with treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) during a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Blood samples were taken at three different time points: directly before (T1) and 15 min after (T2) the first ECT, and directly before the last one (T3). Patients responding to ECT had a significant decrease of the intraindividual epinephrine plasma level when both first time points (Δ T1-T2) were compared (χ2 (1) = 10.05, p = 0.002). This finding encourages further investigation in the understanding of the catecholamine-metabolism including its release and uptake in patients with treatment-resistant MDD receiving ECT.
More Related Videos
09:07Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
Published on: August 15, 2017
08:28Methods for ECG Evaluation of Indicators of Cardiac Risk, and Susceptibility to Aconitine-induced Arrhythmias in Rats Following Status Epilepticus
Published on: April 5, 2011
Related Concept Videos
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias
Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation III: AED Use
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake