Temporal Variability of Dynamic Functional Connectivity In Patients With Schizophrenia Treated With ECT: New Data Analysis From China

Out on PubMed, from researchers in China, is this study:

The correlation between dynamic functional architecture and response to electroconvulsive therapy combined with antipsychotics in schizophrenia.

Gong J, Cui LB, Zhao YS, Liu ZW, Yang XJ, Xi YB, Liu L, Liu P, Sun JB, Zhao SW, Liu XF, Jia J, Li P, Yin H, Qin W.Eur J Neurosci. 2022 Apr 6. doi: 10.1111/ejn.15664. Online ahead of print.PMID: 35388553
The abstract is copied below:Attempts to determine why some patients respond to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are valuable in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is associated with aberrant dynamic functional architecture, which might impact the efficacy of ECT. We aimed to explore the relationship between pre-treatment temporal variability and ECT acute efficacy. Forty-eight patients with schizophrenia and thirty healthy controls underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine whether patterns of temporary variability of functional architecture differ between high responders (HR) and low responders (LR) at baseline. Compared with LR, HR exhibited significantly abnormal temporal variability in right inferior front gyrus (IFGtriang.R), left temporal pole (TPOsup.L) and right middle temporal gyrus (MTG.R). In the pooled patient group, ∆PANSS was correlated with the temporal variability of these regions. Patients with schizophrenia with a distinct dynamic functional architecture appear to reveal differential response to ECT. Our findings provide not only an understanding of the neural functional architecture patterns that are found in schizophrenia but also the possibility of using these measures as moderators for ECT selection.


Keywords: electroconvulsive therapy; schizophrenia; temporal variability.

The article is here.


And from the text:







Here's a sub-analysis from a prior dataset which looks at "temporal variability of dynamic functional connectivity" (TVDFC) in patients with schizophrenia treated with ECT. If  TVDFC is a a real phenomenon, then this is an interesting study. Lots of physics, equations, statistical manipulation, imaging jargon and acronyms here; all of which make it hard for the non-specialist to evaluate. The general concepts are potentially helpful in increasing our understanding of schizophrenia; the details will need to be replicated before being taken at face value. Again, let's not forget the clinical message: ECT is beneficial for patients with schizophrenia.







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