To determine whether ECT disrupts reconsolidation in humans
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Anxiety disorders and symptoms
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
- Reactivation: Difference in memory for reactivated vs non-reactivated
material.
- Sustained memory disruption: Difference in memory for reactivated vs non
reactivated material after a delay period controlling for spontaneous recovery.
- Time-dependency: Difference in memory for reactivated vs non-reactivated
material immediately after ECT and 24h after ECT.
- Secondary encoding: Difference in reactivated memory vs non-reactivated
memory post- and pre-ECT
Secondary outcome
- Emotional memory: Difference in memory for emotional vs neutral material.
- General effect of ECT: Difference in general memory pre- and post-ECT.
Background summary
Reconsolidation refers to the process of memories returning from a fixed state
to a labile state upon reactivation, once again requiring a time-dependent
storage process. Animal studies on reconsolidation generally use
protein-synthesis inhibitors or electroconvulsive shock as disrupting stimulus,
methods not readily available to scientists dealing with healthy subjects. As
such human studies towards reconsolidation have been problematic and
inconclusive. Nevertheless, evidence for the existence of this process in
humans is much anticipated, as it is believed to provide an new avenue to the
development of novel treatments of anxiety and depression disorders. Here we
aim to determine the existence of a reconsolidation process in humans. To this
aim we will examine memory following reactivation in a clinically depressed
patient population undergoing ECT as part of their medical treatment. Prior to
ECT memory will be reactivated and will be assessed following ECT.
Study objective
To determine whether ECT disrupts reconsolidation in humans
Study design
The study will be a three-armed between subjects design, with the critical
reactivation condition within subjects.
Study burden and risks
Considering the short behavioral paradigm we believe the extent of the burden
to the subject is limited. We do not conceive of any risks involved in
participation in this study. The scientific question at hand is critical in the
current neuroscientific debate and the study results may benefit the patient
group in the future. Considering all this, we believe the benefits of this
study outweigh the burden to the participants.
Kapittelweg 29
NL-6500 HB Nijmegen
NL
Kapittelweg 29
NL-6500 HB Nijmegen
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
- Gender: male and female
- Age: >18 years
- Patients undergoing ECT for unipolar major depressive disorder with and without psychotic features.
- Patients are medication free or under a stable therapy with antidepressants
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- Normal or corrected-to-normal hearing
- Willingness and ability to give written informed consent and willingness and ability to understand the nature and content, to participate and to comply with the study requirements.
Exclusion criteria
- Age: < 18
- Medical or surgical history that in the investigator*s view may significantly affect the outcome of the trial; such as presence of current or past relevant somatic or neurological disorder.
- Co-morbid diagnosis of bipolar depressions, schizophrenia, or substance dependence disorders.
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL30819.091.09 |