Acute effects of single and repeated electroconvulsive therapy on plasma catecholamines and blood pressure in major depressive disorder.

The role of activation of adrenergic neurons by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in its antidepressant action was studied by examining acute sympathetic nervous system (SNS) responses to ECT during a course of treatment in patients with melancholia. ECT had an acute dose-dependent effect on plasma norepinephrine (NE) level and blood pressure. The postictal increase in plasma NE and blood pressure was independent of electrical seizure duration.