Depression, ECT, and erythrocyte adenosinetriphosphatase activity.

Erythrocyte membrane Na+-K+ ATPase and Ca++ATPase levels were investigated in 11 women treated with ECT for endogenous depression and 11 age-matched normal control subjects. Pretreatment ATPase levels in depressives were significantly lower than in controls, and increased to control levels after a course of ECT. These data are discussed in terms of the physiology of depressive illness and ECT.