Model-based assessment of race, sex, and electrode montage in ECT

Abstract

Objective: This computational modeling study quantified the influence of sex and race-related cranial anatomy on predicted brain-wide current flow during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) across conventional (bifrontal (BF), bitemporal/bilateral (BL), right unilateral (RUL)) and experimental (focal electrically administered seizure therapy (FEAST) and frontomedial (FM)) electrode montages. The objective was to determine whether race-associated variability meaningfully contributes to differences in ECT stimulation metrics across montages. Methods: Finite element head models of Chinese, Black, and Caucasian subjects were developed using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and analyzed using the Realistic vOlumetric- Approach-based Stimulator for Transcranial electric stimulation (ROAST) pipeline (N = 150 total; n = 50 per cohort, comprising 25 M and 25 F, age range: 20-30 years). Five ECT montages were simulated under a constant-current condition (900mA). Stimulation strength (Ebrain/Eth) was quantified as 90th percentile of brain-wide E-field magnitude (Ebrain) relative to neuronal activation threshold (Eth = 0.25 V/cm) quantified stimulation strength. Overall focality was evaluated as a percentage of brain volume stimulated above the neural activation threshold (Ebrain [≥] Eth), while laterality was quantified as the median right-to-left hemispheric E-field magnitude ratio. The effects of race, sex, and montage on stimulation strength, focality, and hemispheric laterality were statistically analyzed. Results: Substantial race- and sex-related differences observed in cranial anatomy resulted in systematic variation in predicted ECT-induced E-field intensity. Brain-wide E-field magnitude varied by both race and montage, with the largest fields generally observed in Caucasian head models and during BL stimulation. Montage exerted the strongest effect on stimulation strength (Ebrain/Eth) with BL and FEAST producing the highest stimulation strengths, followed by RUL and FM, while BF produced the lowest. Caucasian subjects generally predicted higher stimulation strengths than Black and Chinese subjects, whereas females predicted modestly higher stimulation strengths than males. Laterality was primarily determined by montage, with FEAST producing the greatest hemispheric asymmetry, followed by RUL. Chinese subjects demonstrated higher laterality ratios than both Black and Caucasian subjects. BL, RUL, and FEAST stimulated substantially larger brain volumes above neural activation threshold (less focal stimulation) than BF. Lower focality was observed in Caucasian subjects relative to Black and Chinese subjects, and in females relative to males. Conclusions: Electrode montage was the primary determinant of predicted ECT stimulation strength, focality, and laterality. Race-related anatomical differences and, to a lesser extent, sex-related differences systematically altered stimulation patterns, supporting consideration of individualized anatomy in ECT dosing and treatment optimization.