Neurobiological Factors in Ect-Related Cognitive Dysfunction: A Review

Neurobiological elfects of electroconvulsive therapy ECT include nlolecularlevel changes in protein synthesis , neurochemical and electrophysiological changes, in addition to effects on cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral metabolism and the blood-brain-barrier. This review article presents an overview of these issues and explores the role of neurobiological factors in post-ECT coagnitive inlpairment Hypotheses derived front the nlolecular basis of memory, and neurochemical hypotheses of ECT-related cognitive dysfunction are outlined, in brief. The possibility of an association between ECT. EGG and cognilJon i s explored. This article also discusses the cognitive irnplicatlons of post-ECT changes in CBF, cerebral metabolism, blood pressure and the bloodbrain-barrier. Structural and functional neuroimaging studies relevant to this concept are also reviewed.

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