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Effects of ECT on brain structure: a pilot prospective magnetic resonance imaging study

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.6.701

The authors describe a pilot prospective investigation of the effects of ECT on brain structure using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In nine patients with major depression, a course of ECT produced no acute changes in brain structure according to blind raters' assessments of cortical atrophy and global comparison of pre- and post-ECT studies. There were also no significant changes in the ventricle-brain ratios. Pre-ECT brain abnormalities were common in these patients yet were also unaffected by ECT. Future MRI studies of ECT should include more subjects and should address long-term changes and subtle brain abnormalities.

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