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Gender but not stimulus parameters influence prolactin response to electroconvulsive therapy
S Motreja1, D K Subbakrishna, M N Subhash
1National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Psychoneuroendocrinology
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) significantly increases prolactin (PRL) levels post-seizure. This PRL response, unlike growth hormone (GH) response, is consistently higher in females compared to males, regardless of ECT energy or frequency.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- The post-ictal prolactin (PRL) response is a reliable indicator following electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
- Previous research indicates variable correlations between PRL response and patient/treatment factors.
- Understanding hormonal changes during ECT is crucial for optimizing treatment and patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) parameters and post-ictal prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) levels.
- To explore potential predictors of PRL response, including patient gender, medication status, and ECT stimulus characteristics.
- To determine the influence of ECT energy, frequency, and seizure duration on hormonal responses.
Main Methods:
- Forty patients with endogenous depression underwent bilateral brief-pulse ECT with either high-energy (240 mC) or low-energy (60 mC) stimuli.
- PRL and GH levels were measured pre- and post-ECT using radioimmunoassay.
- Data were analyzed to compare hormonal responses based on gender, drug-naive status, ECT energy, frequency, and seizure duration.
Main Results:
- ECT significantly increased PRL levels seven- to nine-fold weekly, while GH levels showed no significant change.
- All patients exhibited increased PRL, but 42% did not show increased GH.
- The delta PRL response was significantly higher in females than males, irrespective of ECT parameters or patient characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Gender is a significant determinant of the post-ictal prolactin response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
- Unlike GH, PRL levels consistently increase after ECT, with females showing a more pronounced response.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms behind gender differences in ECT-induced PRL release.