Prolactin and beta-endorphin serum elevations after ECT in manic patients

Objective: Alterations in prolactin and P-endorphin serum levels after ECT are well-established findings in depression. The present study focuses on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) response patterns of the mentioned parameters in patients suffering from acute mania. Following the first three ECTs of a treatment series in 19 patients diagnosed according to DSM-III-R criteria as suffering from mania, blood samples were drawn before, and 20, 30 and 40 minutes after ECT. Serum prolactin and beta -endorphin levels were established in order to gain information about the effects of ECT on different neurotransmitter systems. Results: A significant transient increase in serum prolactin after ECT was found. Furthermore, in females but not males, Delta (max) prolactin diminished over the course of treatment as prolactin baseline levels increased. beta -endorphin levels showed a stable transient increase after ECT stimulus regardless from sex or treatment. Conclusion: The reported findings reflect those established in depression. This suggests that they are epiphenomenal to ECT.