A low dose (0.5 mg) of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), a short-
acting tripeptide with known analeptic properties, was administered to
eight depressed patients 5 minutes after ECT session 3 or 4 in a double-
blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. After TRH infusion the patients
displayed selectively better performance on a battery of neuropsychological
tests than they did after placebo infusion. Further exploration with
pharmacological probes to mitigate ECT postictal cognitive deficits is
warranted.Abstract Teaser