Effective electroconvulsive therapy in a 92-year-old dementia patient with psychotic feature.
A 92-year-old woman who suffered from dementia with psychotic feature was admitted to a psychiatric ward. She refused to eat or take any medications. After 0.5 mg i.v. injection haloperidol, prolongation of QTc interval occurred in the electrocardiogram. Therefore two sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were performed carefully after informed consent was obtained by her family. Almost no psychotic symptoms were observed after the first ECT. No cognitive side-effects were observed during and after the two ECT sessions. This demonstrates that ECT can be used as an alternative treatment when elderly dementia patients with psychotic feature cannot tolerate medication.
Katagai
Hiroshi
H
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki-Aiseikai Hospital, Hirosaki, Japan.
Yasui-Furukori
Norio
N
Kikuchi
Atsuhiro
A
Kaneko
Sunao
S
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015161:Dementia, Multi-Infarct / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone