The Relationship Between Depression and Pain During Acute Electroconvulsive Therapy and Follow-Up Period for Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression

Abstract

Objectives: We explored the relationships between depression and pain during acute electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and the follow-up period for patients with treatment-resistant depression and concomitant pain.

Methods: During the acute ECT phase, treatment-resistant depression patients (N = 97) were randomized to receive ECT plus agomelatine 50 mg/d, or ECT plus placebo. Depression and pain severities were measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), and the pain subscale of the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale at baseline, after every 3 ECT treatments, and after acute ECT. If patients achieved response (ie, a ≥ 50 % reduction in HAMD-17) or received at least 6 ECT treatments, they were prescribed agomelatine 50 mg/d and participated in a 12-week follow-up trial. The HAMD-17 and pain subscale were assessed at 4-week intervals. Both HAMD-17 and pain subscale scores were converted to T score units to compare the degrees of changes between depression and pain during acute ECT and the follow-up period.

Results: Eighty-two patients completing at least the first 3 ECT treatments entered the analysis. Both HAMD-17 and pain subscale decreased significantly after acute ECT. Changes of HAMD-17 T scores were significantly greater than changes of pain subscale T scores during acute ECT and follow-up period.

Conclusions: Pain changed more slowly than did depression while measuring both during acute ECT and the follow-up period. Pain can, therefore, be considered a separate entity from depression.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04181567.