Long-term effects of electroconvulsive therapy on brain structure in major depression

Background. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies on major depressive disorder (MDD) have predominantly found short-term electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-related gray matter volume (GMV) increases, but research on the long-term stability of such changes is missing. Our aim was to investigate long-term GMV changes over a 2-year period after ECT administration and their associations with clinical outcome. Methods. In this nonrandomized longitudinal study, patients with MDD undergoing ECT (n = 17) are assessed three times by structural MRI: Before ECT (t(0)), after ECT (t(1)) and 2 years later (t(2)). A healthy (n = 21) and MDD non-ECT (n = 33) control group are also measured three times within an equivalent time interval. A 3(group) x 3(time) ANOVA on whole-brain level and correlation analyses with clinical outcome variables is performed. Results. Analyses yield a significant group x time interaction (p(FWE) < 0.001) resulting from significant volume increases from t(0) to t(1) and decreases from t(1) to t(2) in the ECT group, e.g., in limbic areas. There are no effects of time in both control groups. Volume increases from t(0) to t(1) correlate with immediate and delayed symptom increase, while volume decreases from t(1) to t(2) correlate with long-term depressive outcome (all p <= 0.049). Conclusions. Volume increases induced by ECT appear to be a transient phenomenon as volume strongly decreased 2 years after ECT. Short-term volume increases are associated with less symptom improvement suggesting that the antidepressant effect of ECT is not due to volume changes. Larger volume decreases are associated with poorer long-term outcome highlighting the interplay between disease progression and structural changes.