Electroconvulsive Therapy Regulates the Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity of the Dorsomedial Prefrontal Cortex in Depressive Patients: Evidence from 2 Independent Samples

Authors

  • Loufeng Zhang Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022 Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Geriatric Psychology, The Fourth People's Hospital of Hefei, 230000 Hefei, Anhui, China
  • Yuanyuan Guo Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022 Hefei, Anhui, China
  • Tongjian Bai Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022 Hefei, Anhui, China
  • Meidan Zu Department of Medical Psychology and Sleep, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230601 Hefei, Anhui, China
  • Qiang Wei Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022 Hefei, Anhui, China
  • Yue Wu Department of Medical Psychology and Sleep, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230601 Hefei, Anhui, China
  • Gongjun Ji Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, 230022 Hefei, Anhui, China; Hefei Collaborative Innovation Center of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, 230022 Hefei, Anhui, China
  • Huaming Lv Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022 Hefei, Anhui, China
  • Wen Xie Department of Anxiety and Depression, Anhui Mental Health Center, 230000 Hefei, Anhui, China
  • Kai Wang Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022 Hefei, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, 230022 Hefei, Anhui, China
  • Yanghua Tian Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022 Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Medical Psychology and Sleep, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230601 Hefei, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, 230022 Hefei, Anhui, China
  • Jingyong Su The College of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, 518055 Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62641/aep.v52i5.1675

Keywords:

depression, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, electroconvulsive therapy, voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity

Abstract

Background: The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) is considered a crucial node in emotional and cognitive processes. Voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) is a validated methodology for investigating interhemispheric coordination. This study aims to elucidate the effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on the interhemispheric connectivity of the dmPFC in patients with depression, using VMHC as a measure of bilateral neural coordination.   

Methods: Thirty-three patients with depression, screened at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), and thirty-five patients with depression, screened at Anhui Medical University (AHMU), were selected as the subjects of this study. VMHC was employed to investigate the effects of ECT on bilateral hemispheric functional connectivity. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was used to assess depressive symptoms, and the relationships between changes in HAMD scores and VMHC values were examined.   

Results: Following ECT, the depressive symptoms of all participants decreased (p < 0.001). The VMHC values in the dmPFC were significantly increased in both groups after ECT (p < 0.01). No significant correlation was found between the increasing VMHC values in the dmPFC and the changes in HAMD scores in depressed patients (p > 0.05).   

Conclusion: These results show that ECT regulates interhemispheric functional connectivity in depressed patients, and significantly increases the VMHC values in the dmPFC. Our findings may provide a useful method for optimizing the treatment of depression.

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Published

2024-10-05

How to Cite

Zhang, Loufeng, et al. “Electroconvulsive Therapy Regulates the Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity of the Dorsomedial Prefrontal Cortex in Depressive Patients: Evidence from 2 Independent Samples”. Actas Españolas De Psiquiatría, vol. 52, no. 5, Oct. 2024, pp. 660-9, doi:10.62641/aep.v52i5.1675.

Issue

Vol. 52 No. 5 (2024)

Section

Article