Long Term Follow–Up of Clozapine Resistant Schizophrenia Treated with a Short Course of Electroconvulsive Therapy

Dr. Rohit Garg; Dr. Bir Singh Chavan; Dr. Priti Arun

Volume : VII, Issue : II, February - 2018

Long Term Follow–Up of Clozapine Resistant Schizophrenia Treated with a Short Course of Electroconvulsive Therapy

Dr. Rohit Garg, Dr. Bir Singh Chavan, Dr. Priti Arun

Abstract :

Introduction: Open label, non–randomized, follow up study was done to assess 10 years naturalistic outcome of clozapine resistant schizophrenia treated with a short course of electroconvulsive therapy.

Material and methods: 11 consecutive clozapine resistant schizophrenia patients aged 18 – 65 years participated in the short term study in 2006–07. 6 sessions of bi–temporal modified electroconvulsive therapy were administered twice a week. Naturalistic follow up was done in 2016. Brief psychiatric rating scale, positive and negative syndrome scale for schizophrenia, clinical global impressions and global assessment of functioning were applied at baseline, after 4 sessions, after 6 sessions and after 10 years.

Results: Age of 11 participants was 30.64 � 6.120 years. Brief psychiatric rating scale score improved significantly from baseline score of 55.91 � 7.217 to 37.45 � 16.312 after 6 ECT sessions (p < .005^***). The score of positive and negative syndrome scale changed from 89.27 � 18.488 at baseline to 67.73 � 25.535 after 6 sessions (p < .008^***). After 10 years, the score on ief psychiatric rating scale was 45.91 � 9.163 and that of positive and negative syndrome scale was 60.29 � 14.761. The socio occupational functioning of the patients was poor at follow up.

Conclusions: Electroconvulsive therapy is efficacious and safe in short term for patients with clozapine resistant schizophrenia. However, the improvement is lost once therapy is discontinued. Long term outcome of clozapine resistant schizophrenia remains poor.