Comparing Anaesthetic Drugs During Electroconvulsive Therapy for Severe Depression
Compares methohexital, propofol and etomidate during electroconvulsive therapy in adults with severe depression.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Varsinais-Suomen hyvinvointialue
- Where
- Turku, FinlandSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Effects of General Anaesthetic Agents on the Efficacy of Electroconvulsive Therapy and EEG Changes in Patients with Depression
- Status
- Not yet recruiting
- Phase
- Phase 4
- People taking part
- 174 people, planned
- Started
- 1 Sept 2026
- Expected to end
- 31 Dec 2028
- Type of study
- Interventional
- Record updated
- 7 October 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with severe unipolar depression who are about to start their first course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). It compares three anaesthetic drugs used during ECT.
- Age
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- Women and men can join.
- Disease stage
- Severe unipolar depression that needs ECT. Physical health status ASA I-III.
- Earlier treatment
- The person must be starting their first acute course of ECT.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Left-handedness
- Epilepsy or taking epilepsy medicine for any reason
- Bipolar disorder or non-affective psychotic disorder
- Personality disorder or active substance use disorder
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 2 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Written informed consent obtained prior to study procedures 2. Age 18–75 years 3. Diagnosis of severe unipolar depression requiring ECT (ICD-10: F32.1x, F32.2x, F32.3, F33.1x, F33.2x, F33.3) 4. Considered suitable for ECT by the treating psychiatrist 5. Patients undergoing their first acute course of ECT 6. Able to comply with study procedures and the scheduled ECT treatment series 7. ASA Physical status I-III
Who cannot take part
- Left-handedness 2. Personality disorder or active substance use disorder 3. Pregnancy or breastfeeding 4. Any degree of legal incapacity to provide legal consent 5. Patients receiving involuntary psychiatric treatment 6. Contraindications to study anaesthetic agents or neuromuscular blockers 7. Severe obesity (BMI > 45) 8. Epilepsy or use of antiepileptic medication for any reason (e.g., neuropathic pain) 9. Bipolar disorder (F31.x) 10. Non-affective psychotic disorders (F20–F29) 11. Clinically significant neurological disorders that are considered likely to interfere with EEG interpretation, seizure physiology, or the scientific validity of the study outcomes
Where in Finland
- Varsinais-Suomen hyvinvointialueTurku, FinlandNot yet recruiting
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The primary objective of the study is to determine whether the choice of anaesthetic agent (methohexital, propofol, or etomidate) influences the speed of clinical response to ECT during the treatment course measured by Montgomery-Åsberg depression scale (MARDS).
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on the EU's official list of trials (CTIS).
- Official title
- Effects of General Anaesthetic Agents on the Efficacy of Electroconvulsive Therapy and EEG Changes in Patients with Depression
- Plain-language title
- Comparing Anaesthetic Drugs During Electroconvulsive Therapy for Severe DepressionGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 7 October 2026