Decreased Superoxide Dismutase Activity after ECT and Correlation between Higher Oxidant Levels and Poor Response to ECT in Depression

Abstract

Objective: The literature regarding effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on oxidative metabolism (OM) reports conflicting changes in oxidant and antioxidant status in animal studies. The goal of this first human study was to investigate the changes in oxidants and antioxidants in plasma of depressed patients after ECT.