Vanicek T, et al. - Given the high efficacy of continuation electroconvulsive therapy (c-ECT) for the prevention of depressive symptom relapse, researchers sought to ascertain how c-ECT works in humans, particularly with regard to its effects on BDNF concentrations. They examined serum BDNF (sBDNF) levels twice, both before and after up to four c-ECT sessions in 13 patients with either unipolar or bipolar depression (mean age ± SD: 56.7±17.3; f/m: 10/3; unipolar/bipolar: 10/3) who received between one and four c-ECT. In line with data from animal literature, they observed an increase in sBDNF concentrations subsequent to c-ECT, which has correlated regularly applied electrical stimulation with neuroplastic processes. Finding thereby suggests that ECT-induced sBDNF concentrations are associated with (sustained) remission status, considering a stable clinical condition across c-ECT.