Biological Psychiatry

Rapid Psychotherapeutic Effects of Anesthesia with Isoflurane (ES Narcotherapy) in Treatment-Refractory Depressed Patients
G. Langer^a, J. Neumark^b, G. Koinig^a, M. Graf^c, G. Schönbeck<sup>a

a</sup>Department of Psychiatry and
^bDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Vienna,
^cDepartment of Neurology, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria

Address of Corresponding Author

Neuropsychobiology 1985;14:118-120 (DOI: 10.1159/000118216)

  Key Words

• Isoflurane
• Anesthesia
• Psychotherapeutic effects
• Electroconvulsive therapy
• Antidepressant
• Treatment-refractory depression

  Abstract

Treatment-refractory depressed patients who objected to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were given a series of anesthesias with isoflurane (Forane®), a modern and established inhalation anesthetic. According to our hypothesis to be tested, the brief period of electrocerebral silence (ES), which can be observed shortly after the grand mal seizure in ECT, may be in itself a crucial biological determinant for the therapeutic effects of ECT. Isoflurane is the only drug known to effect an ES in the EEG in nontoxic concentrations, which does not result in adverse effects on any body organ including the brain; no seizure activity can be observed. Eleven depressed patients received a total of 36 anesthesias with isoflurane (ES narcotherapy). Rapid antidepressant effects were observed in 9 patients (p < 0.0001). Effects were reproducible and lasted up to several weeks. No adverse effects of anesthesia were noticed.

Copyright © 1985 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Gerhard Langer, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 14, A-1090 Vienna (Austria)

  Article Information

Published online: NIL
Number of Print Pages : 3