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Prolactin and beta‐endorphin serum elevations after ECT in manic patients
Author(s) -
Chaudhry Haroon R.,
Hofmann Peter,
Loimer Norbert,
Kotter Mark,
Quehenberger Franz,
Fueger Gerhard
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2000.102005386.x
Subject(s) - prolactin , mania , electroconvulsive therapy , depression (economics) , medicine , endocrinology , psychology , bipolar disorder , hormone , electroconvulsive shock , lithium (medication) , economics , macroeconomics
Objective: Alterations in prolactin and β‐endorphin serum levels after ECT are well‐established findings in depression. The present study focuses on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) response patterns of the mentioned parameters in patients suffering from acute mania. Method: Following the first three ECTs of a treatment series in 19 patients diagnosed according to DSM‐III‐R criteria as suffering from mania, blood samples were drawn before, and 20, 30 and 40 minutes after ECT. Serum prolactin and β‐endorphin levels were established in order to gain information about the effects of ECT on different neurotransmitter systems. Results: A significant transient increase in serum prolactin after ECT was found. Furthermore, in females but not males, Δ max prolactin diminished over the course of treatment as prolactin baseline levels increased. β‐endorphin levels showed a stable transient increase after ECTstimulus regardless from sex or treatment. Conclusion: The reported findings reflect those established in depression. This suggests that they are epiphenomenal to ECT.