Effects of desmopressin (DDAVP) on memory impairment following ...

group, all subscores showed an increase between
evaluation times 1 and 2, 1 and 3, and 2 and 3.
(Table 1) This confirms that effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>desmopressin</strong>
on ECT-induced memory impairment persist
with the continuing administration. This result
supports the research by Dons et al. (15), which
revealed that effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>desmopressin</strong> continue with
continued administration but will be decreased
within a week after discontinuation <strong>of</strong> drug. In
this study we only evaluated the effects <strong>of</strong> the
drug until the last day <strong>of</strong> administration. An
evaluation after the discontinuation <strong>of</strong> drug is
needed to know how long the effects remain.
As Couk et al. (16) noted, <strong>desmopressin</strong> facilitates
memory processes but this effect is short
and is not permanent after the discontinuation
<strong>of</strong> drug.
Conclusions
This study has shown that ECT results in cognitive
impairment. Cognitive side-effects indicated in this
study were in the fields <strong>of</strong> immediate memory,
short-term memory, visual memory, and associate
learning and overall decrease in memory quality
score. The main result <strong>of</strong> the study was the finding
that <strong>desmopressin</strong> is effective in the prevention <strong>of</strong>
these adverse effects <strong>of</strong> ECT. This study also
revealed that <strong>desmopressin</strong> facilitates learned
memory recall, stabilizes memory against adverse
ECT effects and also prevents memory impairment
following ECT.
Although the exact mechanism <strong>of</strong> <strong>desmopressin</strong>
action is still not clear, it is known that <strong>desmopressin</strong>
causes biological or physiological changes in
certain brain structures such as the hippocampus
or cortex, and also increases certain gene expressions
in these structures (17). Other changes
caused by <strong>desmopressin</strong> include induction <strong>of</strong>
secondary messengers, changes in the function
<strong>of</strong> calcium channels, activation <strong>of</strong> cholinergic
mechanisms (such as increasing acetylcholine
esterase level in the frontal cortex, and induction
<strong>of</strong> acetylcholine release), and induction <strong>of</strong> hippocampal
metabolism <strong>of</strong> inositol phospholipid (6).
In the light <strong>of</strong> these data, we conclude that <strong>desmopressin</strong>
administration can be a proper pharmacological
means for prevention for adverse effects
<strong>of</strong> ECT on memory. In addition, this drug has no
<strong>Effects</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>DDAVP</strong> on memory post-ECT
severe side-effects and no contraindication during
pregnancy and breast-feeding.
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