Research on Electroconvulsive Therapy at the Clínic

The various members of the Clínic's ECT programme have established several lines of research in this area, with more than 30 specific publications in scientific journals.  

Research is primarily conducted through the following groups at the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS):

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar and Depressive Disorders 

The programme has various projects focusing on optimising the technique; characterising the population susceptible to this therapy; evaluating cognitive side effects; and implementing the therapy in special populations, such as adolescents, pregnant women, the elderly and patients with catatonia or medical comorbidities. 

Various studies have also been conducted on the opinions of patients and their caregivers regarding the treatment, and some studies have been conducted in collaboration with other hospitals specialising in the use of this therapy. 

Currently, there is also special interest in the search for genetic and inflammatory biomarkers to provide a better understanding of the biological basis of the mechanism of action of ECT and to help predict response or the onset of side effects. Some of these projects are carried out in collaboration with international consortia, such as the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. 

Programme members serve on ECT advisory committees for healthcare institutions in both Catalonia and Spain. They have also actively participated in the renewal of the Spanish Consensus on ECT, together with the Spanish Society of Biological Psychiatry. Finally, they collaborate in various teaching and continuing education activities.