Frontal haemodynamic responses in depression and the effect of electroconvulsive therapy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reduced frontal cortex metabolism and blood flow in depression may be associated with low mood and cognitive impairment. Further reduction has been reported during a course of electroconvulsive therapy but it is not known if this relates to mood and cognitive changes caused by electroconvulsive therapy.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to investigate frontal function while undertaking cognitive tasks in depressed patients compared with healthy controls, and following electroconvulsive therapy in patients.

Methods

We measured frontal haemodynamic responses to a category verbal fluency task and a working memory N-back task using portable functional near infra-red spectroscopy (fNIRS) in 51 healthy controls and 18 severely depressed patients, 12 of whom were

SUBMITTER: Downey D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6628632 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature