Project Summary

Mitchell S. Nobler, M.D. (Young Investigator 2000) of Columbia University, will use brain MRI scans to identify abnormalities of brain structure which predict an increased likelihood of cognitive side effects (such as short-term memory loss) from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and clinical response to treatment.  Patients with major depression and healthy controls will undergo brain MRI scans, which will be analyzed for the presence and extent of hyperintensities (bright spots) and hippocampal volume.  The patients will receive ECT, and the data will be analyzed to examine the relation between signal hyperintensities and hippocampal volume with both cognitive side effects and clinical response to ECT.  This work may help provide reliable predictors of which patients are most likely to develop these side effects, and to respond to treatment.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Depression (Unipolar)

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