Why do we prescribe ECT to schizophrenia patients?

Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is prescribed for schizophrenia patients for various indications, in our country. However, official guidelines in other countries have been cautious in prescribing ECT for schizophrenia. To study the indications for which patients with schizophrenia receive ECT. We studied records of schizophrenia inpatients receiving ECT in one year (2005) (n=101) retrospectively, as well as the consecutive data of patients between May 2007 and June 2008 (n=101) prospectively. The various indications for ECT in schizophrenia were studied by frequency analysis. Of the 202 schizophrenia patients who received ECT, the most common reason was ‘to augment pharmacotherapy’ in (n=116) cases. The target symptoms for which ECT was prescribed the most was catatonia (n=72). The mean number of ECTs (SD) received was 8.4 (2.8). Augmentation of pharmacotherapy was the most common indication of ECT in patients with schizophrenia.

Effect of Modified Bifrontotemporal Electroconvulsive Therapy on Executive Function in Patients With Psychiatric Illness

“…41,42 Various explanations have been provided in the literature for this difference. Phutane et al 43 have studied the reasons due to which ECTwas used for the treatment of schizophrenia in Indian patients. It was found that the most common indications that warranted the use of ECT in schizophrenia patients were catatonia, aggression, and aggravated suicidal tendencies.…”

História da implantação da eletroconvulsoterapia no Hospital Geral Público de Palmas

“…As principais indicações para ECT são: depressão maior, tanto unipolar quanto bipolar, esquizofrenia e transtornos esquizofreniformes, quadros maniformes com ou sem sintomas psicóticos, psicose puerperal, síndrome neuroléptica maligna, Research, Society and Development, v. 12, n. 6, e21712642206, 2023 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v12i6.42206 doença de Parkinson, dentre outros. (Gazdag & Ungvari, 2019;Medicina., 2013;Phutane et al, 2011) No serviço em questão a principal patologia de base na amostra de pacientes é a esquizofrenia seguida de transtorno bipolar. Já as indicações foram referentes à refratariedade ao tratamento farmacológico e gravidade da doença.…”

Current challenges in practice of psychiatry in India

“…Phutane et al . [ 1 ] have reported that in a survey of the practice of ECT in teaching hospitals in India, schizophrenia is the most common diagnosis for which patients receive ECT. Further, they found that in schizophrenia the most common indication was augmentation of pharmacotherapy.…”