J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2012 Sep;51(5):271-276.

Electroconvulsive Therapy for Patients with Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia Patients : A Retrospective Study

• Song TH
• Shim JC
• Kong BG
• Kang JW
• Moon JJ
• Kim SJ
• Lim JS
• Kim IG
• Jung DU

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study analyzes the effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) by predicting the factors contributing to the effectiveness of ECT and evaluating the persistency of ECT effect in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
METHODS
Using retrospective review of the charts of 24 schizophrenic inpatients who were admitted to Busan Paik Hospital between March 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009. We compared the pre-ECT Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores and post-ECT CGI scores among these patients. We evaluated the differences in the ECT responses by sex, age, duration of illness and dose of antipsychotic agents, and investigated the rate of continuation of out-patient treatment and readmission, and the change of the CGI score for 12 months after the ECT.
RESULTS
ECT resulted in an overall clinical improvement as measured on the CGI scale. 15 (62.50%) patients were good responders, while 9 (37.50%) were poor responders. There was no significant difference between sex, age, duration of the illness, and dose of antipsychotics taken by the patient before the ECT. 21 (87.50%) patients continuously visited the outpatient department for 12 month, and 14 (66.67%) of them maintained the ECT effect with medical treatment only and without readmission.
CONCLUSION
This study showed that the ECT could be a useful treatment option for schizophrenic patients who are resistant to antipsychotics.

Keyword

Electroconvulsive therapy; Treatment-resistant schizophrenia; Antipsychotics

MeSH Terms

Antipsychotic Agents
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Humans
Inpatients
Outpatients
Retrospective Studies
Schizophrenia
Antipsychotic Agents

Figure

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  Fig. 1 CGI-S change after ECT in patients with schizophrenia. CGI-S : Clinical Global Impression-Severe, ECT : Electroconvulsive therapy.

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  Fig. 2 CGI-S change during the 12-month period after ECT in patients with schizophrenia. * : p<0.05. CGI-S : Clincal Global Impression-Severe, ECT : Electroconvulsive therapy, m : month.

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