| Objective: Modified electroconvulsive therapy(MECT) is an effective therapy for depression. In our study, structural changes of brain in patients with major depression was examined before and after MECT treatment in order to elucidate the mechanism of MECT.Methods: Within subject comparison was used to investigate the relationship between brain structural changes and MECT response in patients with major depressive disorder. Totally 13 individuals with major depression were included in this study,according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition(DSM-IV) criteria. At baseline, the Hamilton depression scale(HAMD) was used to assess clinical symptoms and T1-weighted structural images were obtained using a 3.0 Tesla GE Sigma scanner. After 3-week treatment, patients were retested using HAMD and structural imaging.Results: The reduction rate of HAMD scores was(61.8±20.4)%. Four patients’ rates were more than 75%, seven patients’ rates were between 50% to 75%, one patient’s rate was between 25% to 50% and one patient’s rate was less than 25%. The response rate of MECT was 84.6%. The grey matter volumes of left superior temporal gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule, left middle occipital gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus and cerebellum anterior lobe were significantly increased after MECT treatment(t=20.09~29.88,P<0.05). Meanwhile, the grey matter volumes of left superior parietal lobule was significantly decreased(t=26.57, P<0.05). The white matter volume of left middle frontal gyrus and right precuneus were also significantly decreased after treatment(t=28.25,30.51, P<0.05).Conclusion: Our results indicate that there are changes of brain volume in frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and parietal lobe after MECT treatment, suggesting that a neural plastic effect of MECT could play a role in its therapeutic effect. |
