Evaluation of the efficacy of the continuation electroconvulsive therapy in treatment-resistant schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been reported being a safe and effective treatment in schizophrenia. However, there are a limited number of studies assessing continuation ECT utilization in patients with schizophrenia giving partial response to pharmacological treatment. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of continuation ECT in preventing relapse in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Methods: In this retrospective analysis, schizophrenia patients (n = 73) were defined in three groups such as patients who received only AP treatment (only AP), patients who received acute ECT only during hospitalization (aECT+AP), patients who received acute ECT and continuation ECT (a-cECT+AP). Three groups were compared according to positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores. Results: As per comparison of only AP group, aECT+AP group and a+cECT+AP groups in terms of after discharge PANSS and after discharge BPRS scores for 1 st month, 3 rd month and 6 th month; 3 rd and 6 th month's PANSS scores of a+cECT+AP group were statistically significantly lower than other two groups. Discussion: Although this study suffers the limitations of retrospective medical chart analysis, results suggest that, in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who have responded to an acute course of ECT, continuation ECT in combination with antipsychotics is more effective than antipsychotics alone in preventing relapse.

Efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy augmentation for partial response to clozapine: a pilot randomized ECT – sham controlled trial

“…ECT showed to be effective for patients with TRS in some uncontrolled trials 10,11 as well as retrospective studies 12 . Additionally ECT is recommended in guidelines 3 and algorithms such as the International Psychopharmacology Algorithm Project (www.ipap.org).…”