Effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone administration on the electroconvulsive therapy induced prolactin responses and seizure time

What Was Tested

Researchers studied TRH (Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone) in this randomized controlled trial publication.

ECT elicited the expected PRL response when given alone and when given 20 min after TRH when PRL plasma levels were high.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 14 women taking part.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults, middle-aged adults and older adults, women only.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized, placebo-controlled and crossover.

Because people in this TRH (Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone) study were split into groups at random, differences between the groups are less likely to reflect who happened to join each one.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with TRH (Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone) could be set against what happens without it.

Each person switched between TRH (Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone) and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

In the third ECT session TRH was given just prior to ECT.

What Was Measured

ECT elicited the expected PRL response when given alone and when given 20 min after TRH when PRL plasma levels were high.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Bipolar Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Electroconvulsive Therapy, Electroencephalography, Evoked Potentials, Premedication and Prolactin.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, placebo-controlled and crossover study of TRH (Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone) in 14 women.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 1996 (Biological psychiatry), a journal based in United States.

More context: the TRH (Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone) compound page, all human trials.