Indications for electroconvulsive treatment in schizophrenia: A systematic review

On the significance of elektroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of severe mental diseases

“…However, there are also reports on successful treatment in patients who do not comply with these requirements. Publications summarizing the empirical findings on the efficacy are also available for bipolar disorders [25], manic episodes [26], schizophrenic disorders [27], catatonic syndromes [28] and suicidality [29].…”

Autism-Like Behavior in BTBR Mice Is Improved by Electroconvulsive Therapy

“…ECT represents an effective treatment of pharmacoresistant cases of depression [29][30][31], bipolar disorder [32], and schizophrenia [33,34]. Mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of ECT remain largely elusive, with 2 major hypotheses dominating: the anticonvulsant, whereby the effects are attributed to the increase of seizure threshold and decrease of seizure duration observed during the course of ECT [35], and the neurotrophic, which brings in the induction of several neurotrophic factors (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor), transcription factors (e.g., cfos), and neurogenesis as explanations [36,37].…”

Schizophrenia

“…The frequency with which neurons depolarize and hyperpolarize in synchrony determines the oscillation frequency, which is typically between 30 and 200 Hz. As with the slower theta (6-10 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) Hz) waves we discussed for epilepsy, gamma oscillations can be recorded on the skull using surface electrodes, provided that there is a synchronous discharge of thousands of cells.…”

“…Electroshock therapy is still in use for treatment of severe depression and is making a comeback as a treatment of last resort in patients with catatonic, unresponsive, pharmacoresistant schizophrenia. 30 It may also be used in conjunction with antipsychotic drugs, and several active clinical trials are evaluating its effectiveness. A meta-analysis of existing data suggests that it is effective in a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia, namely, catatonic patients at the first psychotic episode and suicidal patients.…”