Electroconvulsive therapy improves somatic symptoms before mood in patients with depression: A directed network analysis

• DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.11.004
• Publication Date: 2023-11-10T14:16:57Z
• Authors: Emma De Schuyteneer; Erik Giltay; Kristof Vansteelandt; Jasmien Obbels; Liese Van den Eynde; Shauni Verspecht; Chelsea Verledens; Kaat Hebbrecht; Pascal Sienaert
• Keywords: Depression; Depressed mood

BackgroundThe recent network perspective of depression conceptualizes as a dynamic causally related symptoms, that contrasts with the traditional view discrete latent entity causes all symptoms. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for severe depression, but little known about temporal trajectories symptom improvement during course ECT.ObjectiveTo gain insight into dynamics depressive symptoms in individuals treated ECT.MethodsThe Quick Inventory Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) was used to assess twice week 68 participants unipolar or bipolar ECT, average 12 assessments per participant. Dynamic time warping (DTW) analyze individual series data, which were subsequently aggregated calculate directed and in- out-strength each symptom.ResultsParticipants had mean age 49.6 (SD = 12.8) 60% female. Somatic (e.g., decreased weight) suicidal ideation showed highest values, indicating their tended precede improvements mood high in-strength. Sad in-strength, thus appeared be last improve ECT (p < 0.001).ConclusionThis study addresses gap existing literature on by first analysing within patients aggregating them group level. The results show somatic tend before ECT.