Cerebrovascular pulsation and width of subarachnoid space during electroconvulsive therapy.

Background: The mechanism of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has not been comprehensively explained. A new noninvasive method of monitoring intracranial homeostasis during and after ECT provides additional insight into the mechanism of ECT. The investigations on changes in the width of the subarachnoid space (SAS) and intracranial pulsation amplitude by near infrared-transillumination/backscattering sounding method can throw new light on changes in type and volume induced by ECT.