Social Psychiatry, Vol. 54 No. 2, 2026.
Meeting abstract
https://doi.org/10.24869/spsih.2026.155
Biomarkers of Astrocyte and Neuronal Reactivity During Electroconvulsive Therapy
Mislav Škrobo
; Clinic for Psychiatry, Sisters of Charity University Hospital, Vinogradska cesta 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
*
Rej Kovačević
; Clinic for Psychiatry, Sisters of Charity University Hospital, Vinogradska cesta 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Dalibor Karlović
; Clinic for Psychiatry, Sisters of Charity University Hospital, Vinogradska cesta 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; School of Medicine, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective
therapeutic method in the treatment of patients
with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Despite
contemporary evidence of its effectiveness and
safety, concern about potential structural damage
to brain tissue remains present in clinical practice.
In this context, biomarkers of neuronal and
astroglial reactivity may contribute to a more objective
assessment of the neurobiological effects
of this therapeutic method. The aim of this study
was to analyze changes in serum concentrations
of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)
and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) during
a therapeutic course of ECT in patients with
schizophrenia. The study was conducted as a
retrospective clinical study on 34 patients with
schizophrenia treated with ECT at the Clinic for Psychiatry, „Sisters of Charity“ University Hospital
in Zagreb. Serum concentrations of UCH-L1
and GFAP were measured before and after the
1st, 6th, and 12th ECT sessions. Changes in concentrations
were analyzed using a general linear
model for repeated measures, with respect to ECT
session and time of measurement. For UCH-L1,
a significant multivariate effect of session and
a significant interaction between session and
time of measurement were found, indicating a
phase-dependent pattern of changes during the
ECT course. The most pronounced increase was
observed after the first session, while no pattern
of further progressive increase was detected in
the later phases. For GFAP, the main effects of
session and time of measurement were not statistically
significant, but a significant interaction
between session and time of measurement was
found, with a variable and nonlinear pattern of
change. The findings show that the use of ECT in
patients with schizophrenia was not associated
with a permanent or progressive increase in biomarkers
of neuronal and astroglial reactivity. The
results further support the safety profile of ECT
and suggest that changes in UCH-L1 and GFAP
during the therapeutic course more likely reflect
phase-dependent and reversible neurobiological
processes rather than structural damage to brain
tissue.
Keywords
ECT; schizophrenia; UCH-L1; GFAP; biomarkers
Hrčak ID:
352270
URI
Publication date:
15.6.2026.
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