Clinical Neuroscience of ECT (CNECT)

 Out on PubMed, from authors in China, is this paper: EEG Temporal-Spatial Feature Learning for Automated Selection of Stimulus Parameters in Electroconvulsive Therapy. Wang F, Chen D, Weng S, Gao T, Zuo Y, Zheng Y. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform. 2024 Oct 31;PP. doi: 10.1109/JBHI.2024.3489221. Online ahead of print. PMID:  39480724 The abstract is copied below: The risk of adverse effects in Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), such as cognitive impairment, can be high if an excessive stimulus is applied to induce the necessary generalized seizure (GS); Conversely, inadequate stimulus results in failure. Recent efforts to automate this task can facilitate statistical analyses on individual parameters or qualitative predictions. However, this automation still significantly lags behind the requirements in clinical practices. This study addresses this issue by predicting the probability of GS induction under the joint restriction of a patient's EEG (electroencephalogram) and the stimulus pa

 Out on PubMed, from a clinician in Iraq, is this case report: Role of Cariprazine in Managing and Preventing Refractory Catatonia: A Case Study. Qasab ZA. Cureus. 2024 Sep 30;16(9):e70538. doi: 10.7759/cureus.70538. eCollection 2024 Sep.  PMID:  39479081   The abstract is copied below: This case study explores the management of a 22-year-old male patient diagnosed with recurrent refractory catatonia, a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by motor, behavioral, and autonomic disturbances often associated with bipolar disorder. Despite comprehensive investigations, including normal results in tests such as complete blood count (CBC), liver function tests (LFT), thyroid function tests (TFT), renal function tests (RFT), C-reactive protein (CRP), creatine kinase (CKP), and serum electrolytes, the patient's condition persisted. Initial treatments with conventional therapies, such as benzodiazepines, proved unsuccessful. However, the introduction of cariprazine, an atypical antipsych

 Out on PubMed, from authors in Romania,   is this article: Evaluating Anesthesia Practices, Patient Characteristics, and Outcomes in Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Two-Year Retrospective Study. Vintilă BI, Anghel CE, Sava M, Bereanu AS, Codru IR, Stoica R, Vulcu Mihai AM, Grama AM, Cătană AC, Boicean AG, Hașegan A, Mihețiu A, Băcilă CI. J Clin Med. 2024 Oct 19;13(20):6253. doi: 10.3390/jcm13206253. PMID:  39458203   The abstract is copied below: Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a well-established treatment for various psychiatric disorders. T his retrospective study evaluates anesthesia practices, patient characteristics, and outcomes in ECT over a two-year period at the "Dr. Gheorghe Preda" Clinical Psychiatry Hospital in Sibiu, Romania. Methods: From March 2022 to July 2024, the Neuroscience Scientific Research Collective at our institution carried out a retrospective observational study on patients who underwent ECT. The evaluation and treatment protocol invo

  Here, IMO, is a slightly provocative test question that OE answers definitively and with nuance. The labeling of ECT as "non-invasive" is particularly apt and helpful. 

 Out on PubMed, from authors in the Netherlands, is this paper: A prediction model for  electroconvulsive  therapy effectiveness in patients with major depressive disorder from the Dutch ECT Consortium (DEC). Loef D, Hoogendoorn AW, Somers M, Mocking RJT, Scheepens DS, Scheepstra KWF, Blijleven M, Hegeman JM, van den Berg KS, Schut B, Birkenhager TK, Heijnen W, Rhebergen D, Oudega ML, Schouws SNTM, van Exel E, Rutten BPF, Broekman BFP, Vergouwen ACM, Zoon TJC, Kok RM, Somers K, Verwijk E, Rovers JJE, Schuur G, van Waarde JA, Verdijk JPAJ, Bloemkolk D, Gerritse FL, van Welie H, Haarman BCM, van Belkum SM, Vischjager M, Hagoort K, van Dellen E, Tendolkar I, van Eijndhoven PFP, Dols A. Mol Psychiatry. 2024 Oct 24. doi: 10.1038/s41380-024-02803-2. Online ahead of print. PMID:  39448805 The abstract is copied below: Reliable predictors for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) effectiveness would allow a more precise and personalized approach for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Out on PubMed, from authors in Sweden, is this review: Ketamine and Esketamine in Clinical Trials: FDA-Approved and Emerging Indications, Trial Trends With Putative Mechanistic Explanations. Vekhova KA, Namiot ED, Jonsson J, Schiöth HB. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2024 Oct 20. doi: 10.1002/cpt.3478. Online ahead of print. PMID:  39428602   Review. The abstract is copied below: Ketamine has a long and very eventful pharmacological history. Its enantiomer, esketamine ((S)-ketamine), was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and EMA for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in 2019. The number of approved indications for ketamine and esketamine continues to increase, as well as the number of clinical trials. This analysis provides a quantitative overview of the use of ketamine and its enantiomers in clinical trials during 2014-2024. A total of 363 trials were manually assessed from clinicaltrial.gov with the search term "Ketamine." The highest number of tri