Impact of electroconvulsive therapy on inflammatory markers in patients with severe mental disorders

Evaluation of the effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on systemic inflammatory markers in patients with severe mental disorders and determination of potential clinical predictors of treatment response.

The current retrospective cohort study included 156 patients with psychotic and mood disorders who underwent ECT. Pre- and post-ECT blood samples were collected to assess inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and other complete blood count derived indices. Clinical outcomes were measured using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Clinical Global Impression Severity (CGI-S).

Significant reductions in several inflammatory markers were identified, including NLR, monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), CRP and CRP-albumin ratio, following ECT. Both BPRS and CGI-S scores also showed marked improvement post-ECT. Psychotic presentation was identified as a predictor of greater symptom improvement; changes in inflammatory markers were not significantly correlated with clinical outcomes.

ECT can reduce systemic inflammation in patients with severe mental disorders; however, this reduction may not directly correspond to clinical improvement. These findings suggest that inflammation plays a complex role in the therapeutic effects of ECT.