Effects of electroconvulsive therapy on frontal white matter in late-life depression: a diffusion tensor imaging study

Neuropsychobiology. 2004;50(1):48-53. doi: 10.1159/000077941.

Abstract

This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on frontal white matter in late-life depressed patients. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed on 8 late-life depressed patients and 12 healthy age-matched controls. The patients were scanned before and after a course of ECT. Fractional anisotropy (FA) was determined in the frontal and temporal regions and the corpus callosum. A significant white matter FA reduction was found in widespread frontal and temporal brain regions in patients with depression before ECT treatment compared with controls. A significant increase in frontal white matter FA was seen following ECT treatment. A course of bilateral ECT ameliorated white matter integrity in frontal brain regions. This suggests a strong relationship with the antidepressant action of ECT.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Aging / psychology
  • Anisotropy
  • Corpus Callosum / physiology
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy*
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy*
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Temporal Lobe / physiology*
  • Treatment Outcome