Changes of cytokine profiles during electroconvulsive therapy in patients with major depression.

Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment of depression, but its mechanism of action still remains unknown. Some studies emphasize that epileptic seizures result in cerebral production of cytokines, including the cytokine network in association with the pathophysiology of depression. We hypothesized that depressed patients would show a dysregulated profile of peripheral cytokines before and after ECT treatment.