Differential Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Patients with Schizophrenia Versus Depressive Disorder: Clinical Distinction Between Antipsychotic and Antidepressant Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy

Objective: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is utilized for treating psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BD). We aimed to compare pre- and post-ECT treatment outcomes between patients with SCZ and a combined group of patients with...

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Main Authors: Naho Nakayama, Tatsuo Nakahara, Hideyuki Iwanaga, Manabu Hashimoto, Takako Mitsudo, Yoshiomi Imamura, Hiroko Kunitake, Yoshito Mizoguchi, Takefumi Ueno
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Brain Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/2/126
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author Naho Nakayama
Tatsuo Nakahara
Hideyuki Iwanaga
Manabu Hashimoto
Takako Mitsudo
Yoshiomi Imamura
Hiroko Kunitake
Yoshito Mizoguchi
Takefumi Ueno
author_facet Naho Nakayama
Tatsuo Nakahara
Hideyuki Iwanaga
Manabu Hashimoto
Takako Mitsudo
Yoshiomi Imamura
Hiroko Kunitake
Yoshito Mizoguchi
Takefumi Ueno
author_sort Naho Nakayama
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is utilized for treating psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BD). We aimed to compare pre- and post-ECT treatment outcomes between patients with SCZ and a combined group of patients with MDD and BD (MDD+BD) to assess the distinction between the antipsychotic and antidepressant effects of ECT. Methods: ECT was administered to patients with SCZ (n = 17) and those with MDD+BD (n = 7). Symptoms were evaluated using the brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS), clinical global impression scale (CGI), and global assessment of functioning (GAF). Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were also measured. Results: The BPRS, CGI, and GAF scores significantly differed after ECT compared with those before ECT in each patient group. However, no significant differences were observed between the groups for each disorder. No significant differences were observed in plasma BDNF levels between the groups at baseline and during ECT. At baseline, only depression scores were more favorable in the SCZ group, whereas positive symptoms and disorganization scores were higher in the MDD+BD group. During treatment, positive symptoms, activation, and disorganization items were significantly more favorable in the MDD+BD group compared with the SCZ group. Total BPRS scores were not associated with plasma BDNF levels; however, rating scores of the several items related to activation, resistance, and disorganization were positively correlated with BDNF levels. Conclusion: ECT effects on several clinical outcomes in the MDD+BD group were associated with plasma BDNF levels. These findings suggest that ECT may be more effective for treating MDD than SCZ.
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spelling doaj-art-a3ab9e721a104a4a834c72f18635dd1c2025-08-20T03:12:11ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252025-01-0115212610.3390/brainsci15020126Differential Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Patients with Schizophrenia Versus Depressive Disorder: Clinical Distinction Between Antipsychotic and Antidepressant Effects of Electroconvulsive TherapyNaho Nakayama0Tatsuo Nakahara1Hideyuki Iwanaga2Manabu Hashimoto3Takako Mitsudo4Yoshiomi Imamura5Hiroko Kunitake6Yoshito Mizoguchi7Takefumi Ueno8Department of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization, Hizen Psychiatric Medical Center, 160 Mitsu, Yoshinogari, Kanzaki 842-0192, Saga, JapanDepartment of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization, Hizen Psychiatric Medical Center, 160 Mitsu, Yoshinogari, Kanzaki 842-0192, Saga, JapanDepartment of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization, Hizen Psychiatric Medical Center, 160 Mitsu, Yoshinogari, Kanzaki 842-0192, Saga, JapanDepartment of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization, Hizen Psychiatric Medical Center, 160 Mitsu, Yoshinogari, Kanzaki 842-0192, Saga, JapanDepartment of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization, Hizen Psychiatric Medical Center, 160 Mitsu, Yoshinogari, Kanzaki 842-0192, Saga, JapanDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, JapanDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, JapanDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, JapanDepartment of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization, Hizen Psychiatric Medical Center, 160 Mitsu, Yoshinogari, Kanzaki 842-0192, Saga, JapanObjective: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is utilized for treating psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BD). We aimed to compare pre- and post-ECT treatment outcomes between patients with SCZ and a combined group of patients with MDD and BD (MDD+BD) to assess the distinction between the antipsychotic and antidepressant effects of ECT. Methods: ECT was administered to patients with SCZ (n = 17) and those with MDD+BD (n = 7). Symptoms were evaluated using the brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS), clinical global impression scale (CGI), and global assessment of functioning (GAF). Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were also measured. Results: The BPRS, CGI, and GAF scores significantly differed after ECT compared with those before ECT in each patient group. However, no significant differences were observed between the groups for each disorder. No significant differences were observed in plasma BDNF levels between the groups at baseline and during ECT. At baseline, only depression scores were more favorable in the SCZ group, whereas positive symptoms and disorganization scores were higher in the MDD+BD group. During treatment, positive symptoms, activation, and disorganization items were significantly more favorable in the MDD+BD group compared with the SCZ group. Total BPRS scores were not associated with plasma BDNF levels; however, rating scores of the several items related to activation, resistance, and disorganization were positively correlated with BDNF levels. Conclusion: ECT effects on several clinical outcomes in the MDD+BD group were associated with plasma BDNF levels. These findings suggest that ECT may be more effective for treating MDD than SCZ.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/2/126brief psychiatric rating scaleelectroconvulsive therapyschizophreniamajor depressive disorderbipolar disorderplasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor
spellingShingle Naho Nakayama
Tatsuo Nakahara
Hideyuki Iwanaga
Manabu Hashimoto
Takako Mitsudo
Yoshiomi Imamura
Hiroko Kunitake
Yoshito Mizoguchi
Takefumi Ueno
Differential Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Patients with Schizophrenia Versus Depressive Disorder: Clinical Distinction Between Antipsychotic and Antidepressant Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy
Brain Sciences
brief psychiatric rating scale
electroconvulsive therapy
schizophrenia
major depressive disorder
bipolar disorder
plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor
title Differential Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Patients with Schizophrenia Versus Depressive Disorder: Clinical Distinction Between Antipsychotic and Antidepressant Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy
title_full Differential Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Patients with Schizophrenia Versus Depressive Disorder: Clinical Distinction Between Antipsychotic and Antidepressant Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy
title_fullStr Differential Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Patients with Schizophrenia Versus Depressive Disorder: Clinical Distinction Between Antipsychotic and Antidepressant Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy
title_full_unstemmed Differential Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Patients with Schizophrenia Versus Depressive Disorder: Clinical Distinction Between Antipsychotic and Antidepressant Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy
title_short Differential Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Patients with Schizophrenia Versus Depressive Disorder: Clinical Distinction Between Antipsychotic and Antidepressant Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy
title_sort differential effects of electroconvulsive therapy on patients with schizophrenia versus depressive disorder clinical distinction between antipsychotic and antidepressant effects of electroconvulsive therapy
topic brief psychiatric rating scale
electroconvulsive therapy
schizophrenia
major depressive disorder
bipolar disorder
plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/2/126
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