title: Maximal response to electroconvulsive therapy for the treatment of catatonic symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because the number of medical lawsuits has recently increased in Japan, doses of medication above the upper limits have recently been avoided, even when treating catatonic patients. We treated catatonic symptoms with drugs within the upper limit of dosage and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to determine the maximal response.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 50 consecutive patients with catatonic symptoms admitted to a university hospital during a 32-month period who were treated with either drugs within the upper limit or ECT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rates were as follows: ECT, 100%; chlorpromazine, 68%; risperidone, 26%; haloperidol, 16%; and benzodiazepines, 2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicated that ECT is the treatment of choice for catatonic symptoms.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. khatta@med.juntedo.ac.jp
authors: Kotaro
authors: K
authors: Hatta
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Miyakawa
authors: Tsuneyoshi
authors: T
authors: Ota
authors: Chie
authors: C
authors: Usui
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Nakamura
authors: Heii
authors: H
authors: Arai
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002389:Catatonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019233:Retreatment; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012560:Schizophrenia, Catatonic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone; D008140:Lorazepam; D003975:Diazepam