Electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of depression in a former ecstasy user
Roland W. Freudenmann, Carlos Schönfeldt-lecuona, Manfred Spitzer, Leopold Hermle, Georg Grön
Journal of Psychopharmacology November 1, 2006 DOI: 10.1177/0269881106067243 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A patient with MDMA-induced depression refractory to antidepressants |
| Intervention | Electroconvulsive therapy |
| Duration | More than 1.5 years follow-up |
| Topics | Depression MDMA |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Add-on electroconvulsive therapy achieved stable remission of affective and cognitive symptoms in a former ecstasy user with treatment-resistant depression. |
Abstract
Depression in former ecstasy users may not respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) possibly due to damaged serotonergic synapses following long-term heavy ecstasy use. We report findings in a patient suffering from MDMA-induced depression which was refractory to several antidepressive medications including selective noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and SSRI. An add-on repeated bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was able to achieve a stable remission of affective and cognitive symptoms with a follow-up of more than 1.5 years. Add-on ECT could be a treatment option in former ecstasy users with severe depressive disorders that fail to respond to SSRI and/or SNRI. Clinical trials are needed to evaluate further the usefulness of ECT in this patient group.