ECT IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE - CHANGES IN MOTOR SYMPTOMS, MONOAMINE METABOLITES AND NEUROPEPTIDES

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was given to 16 non-depressed, non-dem ented patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). In all the pati ents an antiparkinsonian effect was seen, lasting for 18 months in one patient, 3-5 months in seven patients, and a few days to four weeks i n eight patients. After ECT the levels of homovanillic acid and neurop eptide Y in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were significantly increased. Th e eight patients with long lasting motor improvement after ECT had sig nificantly lower CSF-3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol compared to the g roup with short lasting improvement. Five patients developed transitor y mental confusion after ECT. In these patients, and in no others, a h igh albumin-ratio was found already before ECT was given - an indicati on of blood CSF barrier damage. Our results suggest that ECT is valuab le in patients with drug refractory PD or PD with intolerance to antip arkinsonian drugs.