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

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.