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Bacground: Depressive disorders are characterized by oxidative stress and burden of oxidative stress may provoke cellular and biochemical challenges. Thiols are converted into non-reactive disulphides after reacting with oxygen radicals and converted back to thiols. N-terminus of the albumin can be modified by biochemical strain and modified albumin is called ischemia modified albumin (IMA). In this study, it was aimed to assess potential effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on thiol disulphide homeostasis and IMA levels in depression.
Methods: Twenty-three patients with depressive episodes (major depressive disorder n=16), and (bipolar disorder n=7) and 21 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum samples were collected at three time points: one day before ECT, one hour after the first ECT session and one hour after the last session (remission). Thiol disulphide homeostasis and IMA levels were measured.
Results: Total thiol levels were significantly (p=0.032), native thiol levels were trend level (p=0.056) depleted in patients with depression in comparison to that of the healthy control group. Disulphide levels did not differ between the groups. IMA levels were higher (p<0.001) in the patient group initially. Thiol disulphide or IMA levels did not significantly change in the depression group after the first and last ECT sessions.
Conclusion: Although previous studies have reported favorable effects of ECT on various oxidative stress markers, ECT did not influence thiol disulphide or IMA levels in the patient group. These findings provide biochemical support for the safety and efficacy of ECT at subcellular level.
To cite this article: Atagun MI, Atay Canberk O, Balaban O, Ipekcioglu D, Alpugan B, Suat Yalcin, Senat A, Karamustafalioglu N, Ilnem MC, Ozcan Erel O. Investigating the Impact of the ECT on Thiol-Disulphide Homeostasis in Depressive Disorders. Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology 2020;30(2):1-8