[¹¹ C]raclopride positron emission tomography study of dopamine-D_2/3 receptor binding in patients with severe major depressive episodes before and after electroconvulsive therapy and compared to control subjects.

AIM:The aim of the study was to test: (i) if D₂ /D₃ binding in three functional subsections of striatum is different in patients with severe major depressive episodes than in controls; and (ii) if this difference is normalized after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). METHODS:Nine inpatients were examined with positron emission tomography (PET) and the radioligand [¹¹ C]raclopride before and after an average of 8.4 ECT sessions. Treatment response was assessed using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. Nine age- and sex-matched controls were examined twice with PET and [¹¹ C]raclopride. RESULTS:[¹¹ C]raclopride binding was significantly lower in all three subsections of striatum in patients compared to controls (Cohen's d_z , 1.14-1.68; P = 0.003-0.027). Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Ratings decreased significantly after ECT (P < 0.001; Cohen's d_z , 2.9). ECT had no statistically significant effect on [¹¹ C]raclopride binding, although post-ECT binding estimates were more similar to those obtained in controls in all subsections of striatum. CONCLUSION:Using PET and [¹¹ C]raclopride, we found support for the notion that severe major depressive episodes are associated with significantly lower dopamine D₂ /D₃ binding in all three subsections of striatum compared to controls. We noted no significant effect on D₂ /D₃ binding in the patient group after response to ECT.

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