전기경련요법의 작용기전 = Action Mechanisms of Electroconvulsive Therapy

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Electroconvulsive therapy which has not only antidepressant effects but also antipsychotic, antimanic and anticonvulsant effects exerts it's effects via changes on electrical, biochemical, endocrinological, vessels and cell membrances in the brain. And the influences to the biogenic amine system which is thought to be the powerful theoretical mechanism of endogenous depression seems to be closely related with the antidepressant effects of the ECT.
Findings which is consistent are resensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptors, up-regulation of the 5-HT receptors and up-regulation of the GABA-B receptors. The rapid neurobiological changes after the ECT would be nonspecific and rather be due to ECT induced convulsion itself. When the ECT applied repeatedly, the biological responses seem to be delayed. It is thought that the changes are influenced by the readjustment of the sensitization on pre-and post-synapses and of the dynamic imbalance in various types of neurotransmitters. Despite considerable investigation, until recently we only know cut edge of the brain function. The knowledges derived from the study of ECT could give better understanding of the pathogenesis of depression and permit more effective psychopharmacological treatment modalities.