Efficacy of modified electroconvulsive therapy as augmentation agent in treatment-resistant schizophrenia

Abstract

AIM: The aim of the study was to study the efficacy of modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) as an augmentation agent in schizophrenia, with particular emphasis in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective open-label, raters blinded within a group interventional study done over 1 year with 40 consenting adults with a diagnosis of treatment-resistant schizophrenia as per Conley and Kelly’s criteria. With preanesthetic clearance, they were put on a supervised regular MECT regimen after baseline clinical global impression (CGI), PANSS, and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) application with improvement recorded by repeat application of psychopathology measurement scales. RESULTS: after a mean of 11.10 ± 1.6 MECT sessions ranging from 8 to 14, we observed an improvement of 30.6% ± 3.5% in total PANSS score with significant improvement in CGI and BPRS. CONCLUSION: The study endorses the efficacy of MECT augmentation in treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Keywords

• brief psychiatric rating scale
• modified electroconvulsive therapy
• panss
• treatment-resistant schizophrenia