Changes in Pre- and Post-Electroconvulsive Therapy Serum Myostatin Levels in Patients with Treatment Resistant Depression

OBJECTIVE: Myostatin is a growth factor which is investigated regarding musculoskeletal system. Albeit its effect on muscle mass is known, it is considered likely having other unknown effects as well, particularly on central nervous system. With this study, it is aimed to find out that what type of effect electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) does on myostatin in patients with treatment resistant depression. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with treatment resistant major depression and thirty healthy volunteers were included in the study. Pre- and post-ECT levels of myostatine were compared; also this results were compared to healthy controls. RESULTS: For 29 patients with treatment-resistant major depression, the pre-treatment mean myostatin level was 0.95±0.32 ng/ml and post-therapy myostatin level was 11.05±6.97 ng/ml. As a result of this study, it is found that ECT affects serum myostatin levels to a significant degree (t=4.17, p<0.05). It is also found that there was a significant relation between serum myostatin levels and depression scores (r=0.392, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: With the present study and similar ones, it can be understood that how ECT achieves its effectiveness biologically.