EFFECTS OF SINGLE AND REPEATED ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY SESSIONS ON PLASMA ACTH, PROLACTIN, GROWTH HORMONE AND CORTISOL CONCENTRATIONS

To study the effects of electroconvulsive th rapy (ECT) on hormone release, we measured circu-lating concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH) and cortisol (CORT) immediately before and at 2 min, 5 min, 15 min, and 30 min following ECT. Compared to pre-ECT concentrations, there were significant increases in post-ECT plasma ACTH, PRL and CORT. GH did not change consistently. No significant difference between unilat-eral and bilateral ECT was observed. Compared to the first ECT, repeated treatments were associ-ated with a significant decrease in the magnitude of hormone surge. These hormonal changes induced by ECT may reflect changes at the neurotransmitter level