Increased BDNF levels after electroconvulsive therapy in patients with major depressive disorder: A meta-analysis study

ObjectiveWe performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).MethodA comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, LILACS, Grey literature, and EMBASE was performed for papers published from January 1990 to April 2016. The following key terms were searched: “major depressive disorder”, “unipolar depression”, “brain-derived neurotrophic factor”, and “electroconvulsive therapy”.ResultsA total of 252 citations were identified by the search strategy, and nine studies met the inclusion criteria of the meta-analysis. BDNF levels were increased among patients with MDD after ECT (P value = 0.006). The standardized mean difference was 0.56 (95% CI: 0.17–0.96). Additionally, we found significant heterogeneity between studies (I² = 73%).ConclusionOur findings suggest a potential role of BDNF as a marker of treatment response after ECT in patients with MDD.     

Electroconvulsive therapy modulates critical brain dynamics in major depressive disorder patients

BackgroundElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is widely considered as an effective and fast-acting option for treating patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the neural basis underlying this powerful therapy remains uncertain. Recent studies have suggested that the healthy brain may operate near a critical state, which may reflect a balance between neuronal excitation and inhibition.ObjectiveIn the present study, we investigated whether there are any changes regarding criticality in MDD and, if so, whether ECT can reverse them. Critical dynamics analyses were performed on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data collected from 39 MDD patients and 38 healthy controls (HCs).ResultsWe found that compared with HCs, MDD patients, especially those who responded positively to ECT, tended to have smaller average avalanch sizes and lower branching ratios, suggesting a sub-critical state, at both the whole-brain and functional network levels. Importantly, ECT effectively corrected such anomalies, accompanied by enhanced degree centrality and functional connectivity of high-degree nodes located in the networks including the default-mode and the frontoparietal networks.ConclusionThese results indicate that ECT can modulate large-scale brain dynamics of MDD patients to be closer to criticality. Our study sheds new light on the pathology of MDD and the network mechanism by which ECT influences treatment.     

Effects of right unilateral electroconvulsive therapy on motor cortical excitability in depressive patients

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a widely acknowledged effective treatment for severe major depression. ECT produces considerable anticonvulsant effects that may be related to an increased GABA-ergic neurotransmission. We aimed to explore whether motor cortical excitability as assessed with single and paired pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) could be used to investigate these anticonvulsant effects. Therefore, parameters of motor cortical excitability were investigated in 10 patients before and after 10 sessions of right unilateral ECT. After 10 sessions of right unilateral ECT, an enhanced activity of inhibitory circuits in human motor cortex had been observed, as measured by both increased intracortical inhibition and cortical silent period duration, whereas intracortical facilitation and resting motor threshold remained unchanged. The reduction of seizure duration in the course of ECT was associated with clinical improvement and an increase in intracortical inhibition. We interpret this finding as further indirect evidence for changes in inhibitory circuits in the course of ECT in patients with major depression.     

Brain functional effects of electroconvulsive therapy during emotional processing in major depressive disorder

BackgroundIn treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment with high efficacy. While knowledge regarding changes in brain structure following ECT is growing, the effects of ECT on brain function during emotional processing are largely unknown.ObjectiveWe investigated the effects of ECT on the activity of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and amygdala during negative emotional stimuli processing and its association with clinical response.MethodsIn this non-randomized longitudinal study, patients with MDD (n = 37) were assessed before and after treatment with ECT. Healthy controls (n = 37) were matched regarding age and gender. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was obtained twice, at baseline and after six weeks using a supraliminal face-matching paradigm. In order to evaluate effects of clinical response, additional post-hoc analyses were performed comparing responders to non-responders.ResultsAfter ECT, patients with MDD showed a statistically significant increase in ACC activity during processing of negative emotional stimuli (p_FWE = .039). This effect was driven by responders (p_FWE = .023), while non-responders showed no increase. Responders also had lower pre-treatment ACC activity compared to non-responders (p_FWE = .025). No significant effects in the amygdala could be observed.ConclusionsECT leads to brain functional changes in the ACC, a relevant region for emotional regulation during processing of negative stimuli. Furthermore, baseline ACC activity might serve as a biomarker for treatment response. Findings are in accordance with recent studies highlighting properties of pre-treatment ACC to be associated with general antidepressive treatment response.     

Factors causing a relapse of major depressive disorders following successful electroconvulsive therapy: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUNDElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD). Relapse is often observed even after successful ECT, followed by adequate pharmaceutical treatment for MDD. AIMTo investigate the diagnostic factors and treatment strategies associated with depression relapse.METHODSWe analyzed the relationships between relapse, the diagnostic change from MDD to bipolar disorder (BP), and treatment after the initial ECT. We performed a 3-year retrospective study of the prognoses of 85 patients of the Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital. The relative risk of relapse of depressive symptoms was calculated based on the diagnostic change from MDD to BP. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to evaluate the predictive accuracy of diagnostic changes from MDD to BP based on the duration between the first course of ECT and the relapse of depressive symptoms.RESULTSEighty-five patients initially diagnosed with MDD and successfully treated with ECT were enrolled in the study. Compared with the MDD participants, more BP patients experienced relapses and required continuation and/or maintenance ECT to maintain remission (65.6% vs 15.1%, P < 0.001; relative risk = 4.35, 95%CI: 2.19-8.63, P < 0.001). Twenty-nine patients experienced relapses during the three-year follow-up. In 21 (72.4%, 21/29) patients with relapse, the diagnosis was changed from MDD to BP. The duration from the first course of ECT to relapse was shorter for the BP patients than for the MDD patients (9.63 ± 10.4 mo vs 3.38 ± 3.77 mo, P = 0.022); for most patients, the interval was less than one month. The relative risk of depressive symptoms based on diagnostic changes was 4.35 (95% confidence interval: 2.19–8.63, P < 0.001), and the area under the ROC curve for detecting diagnostic changes based on relapse duration was 0.756 (95%CI: 0.562-0.895, P = 0.007).CONCLUSIONIt may be beneficial to suspect BP and change the treatment strategy from MDD to BP for patients experiencing an early relapse.     

抑郁症患者外显性与内隐性情绪处理的脑功能磁共振研究

目的以健康者为对照,利用脑功能磁共振研究抑郁症患者的外显性和内隐性情绪处理过程。方法2006年12月-2007年12月,收集临床诊断抑郁症患者14例（DSM-Ⅳ标准）。14例健康志愿者作为对照。采用传统的组块设计,采集患者在高兴与悲伤2组脸像刺激下,判断表情的外显性情绪处理和判断性别的内隐性情绪处理过程的脑功能磁共振图像,利用SPM2统计软件计算出个体及组内在不同表情刺激和不同任务操作下激活的脑功能区。结果①抑郁症患者判断表情时,悲伤脸像的主要激活区位于顶叶、海马旁回、基底节、梭状回、丘脑、岛叶、前扣带回及胼胝体下回;高兴脸像激活区仅有前扣带回;②抑郁症患者判断性别任务时,悲伤脸像激活区分布在额中回、顶下小叶、前扣带回、颞中回;高兴脸像未见明显脑功能激活区。结论①抑郁症患者外显性与内隐性情绪刺激的脑内加工过程不同,悲伤脸像脑功能区激活均强于高兴脸像;②与健康人群相比,不同情绪处理过程中,抑郁症患者的高兴脸像激活区较弱,而悲伤脸像的激活明显增强。提示抑郁症患者情绪处理的神经系统存在异常,对正性情绪的神经反应减弱,而对负性情绪的神经反应增强。     

艾司西酞普兰治疗后抑郁症患者功能磁共振影像学改变的研究进展

本文目的是探讨抑郁症患者接受艾司西酞普兰治疗前后大脑功能磁共振激活改变.功能磁共振研究显示,治疗前,抑郁症患者前额叶、扣带回和纹状体等脑区的活动存在异常,前扣带回、背外侧前额叶、丘脑异常激活可预测艾司西酞普兰的疗效.经艾司西酞普兰治疗后,患者部分脑区恢复正常,且脑区激活的改变与症状的改善具有相关性.本文对抑郁症患者治疗...     

部分多模态MRI在重度抑郁症中的研究进展

重度抑郁症是最常见的高致残性的精神疾病之一,其发病机制尚不清楚。MRI技术作为非侵入性的神经影像技术,可揭示重度抑郁症患者大脑功能状态。与健康对照者相比,重度抑郁症患者额叶、颞叶、海马、扣带回、基底节、小脑等脑区功能改变,可能提示重度抑郁症的病理生理异常。现就多模态MRI,包括弥散张量成像(DTI)、弥散峰度成像(DKI)、磁共振波谱成像(MRS)、功能MRI(fMRI)、神经突方向分散度和密度成像(NODDI)在重度抑郁症中的最新研究成果进行综述,以期对其神经生物学机制有更充分的理解。     

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and aerobic exercise training (AET) increased plasma BDNF and ameliorated depressive symptoms in patients suffering from major depressive disorder

BackgroundTo treat patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD), research has focused on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and aerobic exercise training (AET). Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) seems to be key in MDD. The aims of the present study were therefore two-fold, to investigate in a three-arm interventional study the differential effects of ECT, ECT plus AET, and AET alone in patients suffering from TR-MDD on 1. depressive symptoms and 2. plasma BDNF (pBDNF).Methods60 patients with MDD (mean age: 31 years; 31.6% female patients) were randomly assigned either to the ECT, ECT + AET, or AET condition. The AET condition consisted of treadmill exercise for 45 min, three times a week. Both depression severity and pBDNF levels were assessed at baseline and 4 weeks later. All patients were further treated with an SSRI standard medication.ResultspBDNF levels increased over time in all three study conditions, though, highest increase was observed in the ECT + EAT condition, and lowest increase was observed in the AET condition. Depressive symptoms decreased in all three conditions over time, though, strongest decrease was observed in the ECT + AET condition. The combination of ECT + AET led to significantly greater remission rates than in either the ECT or AET alone conditions. BDNF levels were not associated with symptoms of depression.ConclusionsThe pattern of results suggests that ECT, AET and particularly their combination are promising directions for the treatment of patients suffering from MDD, and that it remains unclear to what extent pBDNF is key and a reliable biomarker for MDD.     

Functional reorganization of intra‐ and internetwork connectivity in major depressive disorder after electroconvulsive therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective and rapid treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the neurobiological underpinnings of ECT are still largely unknown. Recent studies have identified dysregulated brain networks in MDD. Therefore, we hypothesized that ECT may improve MDD symptoms through reorganizing these networks. To test this hypothesis, we used resting‐state functional connectivity to investigate changes to the intra‐ and internetwork architecture of five reproducible resting‐state networks: the default mode network (DMN), dorsal attention network (DAN), executive control network (CON), salience network (SAL), and sensory‐motor network. Twenty‐three MDD patients were assessed before and after ECT, along with 25 sex‐, age‐, and education‐matched healthy controls. At the network level, enhanced intranetwork connectivities were found in the CON in MDD patients after ECT. Furthermore, enhanced internetwork connectivities between the DMN and SAL, and between the CON and DMN, DAN, and SAL were also identified. At the nodal level, the posterior cingulate cortex had increased connections with the left posterior cerebellum, right posterior intraparietal sulcus (rpIPS), and right anterior prefrontal cortex. The rpIPS had increased connections with the medial PFC (mPFC) and left anterior cingulate cortex. The left lateral parietal had increased connections with the dorsal mPFC (dmPFC), left anterior prefrontal cortex, and right anterior cingulate cortex. The dmPFC had increased connection with the left anterolateral prefrontal cortex. Our findings indicate that enhanced interactions in intra‐ and internetworks may contribute to the ECT response in MDD patients. These findings provide novel and important insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying ECT.     

Predicting efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy in major depressive disorder

The aim of this study was to investigate methods for predicting the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients with major depressive disorder. Subjects comprised 24 inpatients with major depressive disorder diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria who were resistant to antidepressant therapy or who, due to adverse reactions, could not undergo pharmacotherapy at adequate doses for sufficient durations. ECT was generally performed 12 times using a sinusoidal-wave device. Efficacy of ECT was evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Multiple regression analysis was performed, using the final rate of improvement with ECT as the dependent variable, and improvement rate at completion of three ECT sessions and adequacy of pharmacotherapy before ECT as independent variables. Significant positive correlations were seen between final improvement rate with ECT and improvement rate at completion of three ECT sessions (partial correlation coefficient, 0.50, P<0.02), and significant negative correlations were seen between final improvement rate and adequacy of pharmacotherapy before ECT (partial correlation coefficient, -0.51, P<0.02). No significant differences were identified between responders and non-responders with respect to age, sex, duration of index episode, number of previous depressive episodes, whether depression was melancholia-type, whether depression was accompanied by psychotic features, total HRSD score immediately before ECT, and HRSD retardation or agitation scores. These results suggest that history of pharmacotherapy prior to ECT and improvement rate at completion of three ECT sessions may offer predictors for the final rate of improvement with ECT.     

重复经颅磁刺激或无抽搐电休克治疗联合抗抑郁药物对重度抑郁障碍的疗效和安全性

背景 重度抑郁障碍是致残性最强的精神疾病之一,目前对该病的治疗多采用药物联合物理治疗和心理治疗,关于物理治疗之间的对照研究较少,药物联合物理治疗的对照研究更少。目的 探讨重复经颅磁刺激（rTMS）和无抽搐电休克治疗（MECT）分别联合抗抑郁药物对重度抑郁障碍的疗效和安全性,以期为重度抑郁障碍患者提供更优的治疗方案。方法 连续选取2019年1月1日—2023年4月30日在山东省戴庄医院住院治疗的、符合《国际疾病分类（第10版）》（ICD-10）诊断标准的重度抑郁障碍患者（n=335）。入院后,患者根据病情接受MECT联合药物治疗（n=141）或rTMS联合药物治疗（n=194）。于基线期及治疗第1、2、3、4周末,采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表24项版（HAMD-24）评定抑郁症状,阅读患者病程记录,了解不良反应发生情况。结果 两组HAMD-24评分的时间效应有统计学意义（F=3.081,P=0.042）,组间效应无统计学意义（F=1.023,P=0.313）,时间与组间的交互效应无统计学意义（F=1.642,P=0.191）。治疗后各时点,两组显效率及痊愈率比较,差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）。在整个治疗过程中,MECT联合药物组中,有58人（41.13%）出现近记忆力受损,74人（52.48%）出现头痛或颈部肌肉痛;rTMS联合药物组中,27人（13.92%）出现头痛或头皮不适。结论 rTMS联合抗抑郁药物与MECT联合抗抑郁药物治疗重度抑郁障碍的效果相当,rTMS联合抗抑郁药物的安全性更高。     

Rapid antidepressant effects of repeated doses of ketamine compared with electroconvulsive therapy in hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder

Accumulating evidence suggests that N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists (e.g. ketamine) may exert rapid antidepressant effects in MDD patients. In the present study, we evaluated the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine compared with the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in hospitalized patients with MDD. In this blind, randomized study, 18 patients with DSM-IV MDD were divided into two groups which received either three intravenous infusions of ketamine hydrochloride (0.5 mg/kg over 45 min) or ECT on 3 test days (every 48 h). The primary outcome measure was the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), which was used to rate overall depressive symptoms at baseline, 24 h after each treatment, 72 h and one week after the last (third) ketamine or ECT. Within 24 h, depressive symptoms significantly improved in subjects receiving the first dose of ketamine compared with ECT group. Compared to baseline level, this improvement remained significant throughout the study. Depressive symptoms after the second dose ketamine was also lower than the second ECT. This study showed that ketamine is as effective as ECT in improving depressive symptoms in MDD patients and have more rapid antidepressant effects compared with the ECT.     

More randomized and resilient in the topological properties of functional brain networks in patients with major depressive disorder

Previous studies have reported the enhanced randomization of functional brain networks in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, little is known about the changes of key nodal attributes for randomization, the resilience of network, and the clinical significance of the alterations. In this study, we collected the resting-state functional MRI data from 19 MDD patients and 19 healthy control (HC) individuals. Graph theory analysis showed that decreases were found in the small-worldness, clustering coefficient, local efficiency, and characteristic path length (i.e., increase of global efficiency) in the network of MDD group compared with HC group, which was consistent with previous findings and suggested the development toward randomization in the brain network in MDD. In addition, the greater resilience under the targeted attacks was also found in the network of patients with MDD. Furthermore, the abnormal nodal properties were found, including clustering coefficients and nodal efficiencies in the left orbital superior frontal gyrus, bilateral insula, left amygdala, right supramarginal gyrus, left putamen, left posterior cingulate cortex, left angular gyrus. Meanwhile, the correlation analysis showed that most of these abnormal areas were associated with the clinical status. The observed increased randomization and resilience in MDD might be related to the abnormal hub nodes in the brain networks, which were attacked by the disease pathology. Our findings provide new evidence to indicate that the weakening of specialized regions and the enhancement of whole brain integrity could be the potential endophenotype of the depressive pathology.     

Multimodal imaging reveals a complex pattern of dysfunction in corticolimbic pathways in major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent and associated with considerable morbidity, yet its pathophysiology remains only partially understood. While numerous studies have investigated the neurobiological correlates of MDD, most have used only a single neuroimaging modality. In particular, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have failed to yield uniform results. In this context, examining key tracts and using information from multiple neuroimaging modalities may better characterize potential abnormalities in the MDD brain. This study analyzed data from 30 participants with MDD and 26 healthy participants who underwent DTI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and magnetoencephalography (MEG). Tracts connecting the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) and the left and right amygdala, as well as connections to the left and right hippocampus and thalamus, were examined as target areas. Reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) was observed in the studied tracts. Significant differences in the correlation between medial prefrontal glutamate concentrations and FA were also observed between MDD and healthy participants along tracts connecting the sgACC and right amygdala; healthy participants exhibited a strong correlation but MDD participants showed no such relationship. In the same tract, a correlation was observed between FA and subsequent antidepressant response to ketamine infusion in MDD participants. Exploratory models also suggested group differences in the relationship between DTI, fMRI, and MEG measures. This study is the first to combine MRS, DTI, fMRI, and MEG data to obtain multimodal indices of MDD and antidepressant response and may lay the foundation for similar future analyses.     

基于低频振幅算法的血氧水平依赖功能磁共振成像在无灶性癫痫中的应用

目的 采用基于低频振幅算法的血氧水平依赖功能磁共振成像技术,探讨无灶性癫痫脑活动的神经机制及其意义. 方法 运用功能性磁共振成像技术观察安徽医科大学附属省立医院自2010年9月至2011年3月收治的16例无灶性癫痫患者和同期招募的15名健康对照者脑血氧水平依赖信号的改变;收集其静息态数据,然后运用低频振幅算法对数据进行分析,得到每个受试者的低频振幅统计图,观察无灶性癫痫患者相对于健康对照者低频振荡幅度(ALFF)增高和减弱的区域. 结果 无灶性癫痫组和健康对照组相比ALFF增强的脑区分布在右侧颞叶(MNI坐标分别为15,-90,-21)、内侧额叶(0,24,-24)、腹侧前扣带回(-12,30,27)及右侧小脑半球(-51,-57,-4);而ALFF减弱的脑区分布在左侧小脑半球及相邻后缘枕叶(-48,-15,39)、后扣带回(60,-21,33)及楔前叶(-6,-54,66). 结论 无灶性癫痫患者静息状态下表现出异常的脑功能活动方式,ALFF升高的脑区反映了大脑对癫痫活动的产生、传播等易化作用,表明了癫痫的高活动:而ALFF减低的脑区则反映了大脑对癫痫活动的抑制.     

伴自杀意念抑郁症患者静息态下比率低频振幅特征研究

目的探讨伴自杀意念抑郁症患者的脑活动特征及其与抑郁严重程度、自杀意念和自杀危险的关系。方法运用比率低频振幅方法对30例伴自杀意念、22例不伴自杀意念抑郁症患者和21名正常对照的静息态功能磁共振图像进行比较,采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表17项(Hamilton depression scale 17-item,HAMD-17)评估抑郁症患者的抑郁严重程度,Beck自杀意念量表评估抑郁症患者的自杀意念和自杀危险,并分析伴自杀意念抑郁症组与不伴自杀意念抑郁症组差异脑区的比率低频振幅值与抑郁症严重程度、自杀意念和自杀危险的关系。结果伴自杀意念抑郁症组左侧枕上回/枕中回、右侧枕中回/枕下回fALFF值高于对照组(P0.05,AlphaSim校正),不伴自杀意念抑郁症组左侧枕中回fALFF值高于对照组(P0.05,AlphaSim校正),伴自杀意念抑郁症患者左侧枕中回、右侧枕中回fALFF值高于不伴自杀意念组(P0.05,AlphaSim校正)。伴自杀意念组左侧枕中回(r=0.366,P=0.046)、右侧枕中回(r=0.513,P=0.004)fALFF值分别与HAMD-17总分呈正相关,与Beck自杀意念量表相关无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论伴自杀意念抑郁症患者的双侧枕中回脑功能存在异常,但本研究未发现这种异常脑功能活动与Beck自杀意念量表的自杀意念和自杀危险因子具有相关性。     

Frequency-specific alterations in functional connectivity in treatment-resistant and -sensitive major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) may involve alterations in brain functional connectivity in multiple neural circuits and present large-scale network dysfunction. Patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and treatment-sensitive depression (TSD) show different responses to antidepressants and aberrant brain functions. This study aims to investigate functional connectivity patterns of TRD and TSD at the whole brain resting state. Seventeen patients with TRD, 17 patients with TSD, and 17 healthy controls matched with age, gender, and years of education were recruited in this study. The brain was divided using an automated anatomical labeling atlas into 90 regions of interest, which were used to construct the entire brain functional networks. An analysis method called network-based statistic was used to explore the dysconnected subnetworks of TRD and TSD at different frequency bands. At resting state, TSD and TRD present characteristic patterns of network dysfunction at special frequency bands. The dysconnected subnetwork of TSD mainly lies in the fronto-parietal top-down control network. Moreover, the abnormal neural circuits of TRD are extensive and complex. These circuits not only depend on the abnormal affective network but also involve other networks, including salience network, auditory network, visual network, and language processing cortex. Our findings reflect that the pathological mechanism of TSD may refer to impairment in cognitive control, whereas TRD mainly triggers the dysfunction of emotion processing and affective cognition. This study reveals that differences in brain functional connectivity at resting state reflect distinct pathophysiological mechanisms in TSD and TRD. These findings may be helpful in differentiating two types of MDD and predicting treatment responses.     

Current progress in neuroimaging research for the treatment of major depression with electroconvulsive therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) uses a certain amount of electric current to pass through the head of the patient, causing convulsions throughout the body, to relieve the symptoms of the disease and achieve the purpose of treatment. ECT can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of patients with major depression, but its therapeutic mechanism is still unclear. With the rapid development of neuroimaging technology, it is necessary to explore the neurobiological mechanism of major depression from the aspects of brain structure, brain function and brain metabolism, and to find that ECT can improve the brain function, metabolism and even brain structure of patients to a certain extent. Currently, an increasing number of neuroimaging studies adopt various neuroimaging techniques including functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, structural MRI, and diffusion tensor imaging to reveal the neural effects of ECT. This article reviews the recent progress in neuroimaging research on ECT for major depression. The results suggest that the neurobiological mechanism of ECT may be to modulate the functional activity and connectivity or neural structural plasticity in specific brain regions to the normal level, to achieve the therapeutic effect.