Optimizing maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depression, with lithium as add-on therapy.

This research project is based on an ongoing multicentric study aimed to optimize the maintenance treatment with lithium and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depression (PRASED – Preventing Relapse After Successful Electroconvulsive therapy for Depression). The project consists of a clinical study, a randomized controlled trial funded by FWO-TBM, and is a collaboration of 4 research sites (UPC KU Leuven campus Kortenberg, PZ Duffel, AZ Sint-Jan Brugge en Erasmus MC Rotterdam). Patiënts that achieved remission after acute ECT-treatment are randomized into 2 groups: they continue treatment with personalised maintenance ECT and ongoing antidepressant treatment, and either receive lithium or not. These two study arms are compared and evaluated over a longer period of time. The aim is to evaluate the efficacy of personalised maitenance ECT. Furthermore the effects of Lithium as add-on therapy will be examined. The scientific objectives as foreseen in the study protocol include: - Validate the effectiveness of a personalized, symptom-driven approach of maintenance ECT (for 6 months) in depressive patients that have responded to an acute ECT-course. - Investigate the additive effect of lithium-addition to symptom-driven M-ECT and antidepressant treatment in preventing relapse after successful ECT. - Compare clinician-rated mood with scores on self-rating scales. - Evaluate the tolerability of combined continuation treatment in the two different treatment arms by assessment of cognitive functioning. Other research questions, related to the collected data, can become part of the PhD project in the course of our research.