[Observation on the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture combined with small dose of clozapine in clinical treatment of refractory schizophrenia].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) in combination with small dose of clozapine on clinical symptoms of refractory schizophrenia patients so as to evaluate its validity and security.


METHODS
Eighty schizophrenia patients were randomized into medication group and EA + medication group (n=40/group). Patients of medication group were treated with conventional oral administration of clozapine (50-100 mg/d to 200-500 mg/d, for 8 weeks) and those of EA + medication group treated by EA of Baihui(GV 20) and bilateral Taiyang (EX-HN 5) and oral administration of clozapine (50 mg/d to 100-150 mg/d). EA was given to the patients, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Scores of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and the Untoward Effect Symptom Scale (TESS) were used to assess the therapeutic effect.


RESULTS
Following treatment, PANSS scores for positive symptoms and the common psychiatric symptoms of the medication and EA + medication groups all decreased evidently from the 2rd week on (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and those of the negative symptoms reduced obviously from the 4th week on (P < 0.05). Comparison between two groups showed no significant differences in PANSS scores for positive and negative symptoms and the common psychiatric symptoms after the treatment (P > 0.05). But TESS score of EA+ medication group was evidently lower than that of medication group (P < 0.01), suggesting an apparently fewer untoward effects in EA + medication group. Of the two 40 cases in medication and EA+ medication groups, 6 (15%) and 5 (12.5%) were cured, 8 and 8 (20%) experienced marked improvement in their symptoms, 17 (42.5%) and 16 (40%) had an improvement, 9 (22.5%) and 11 (27.5%) failed, with the effective rates being 77.5% and 72.5% separately.


CONCLUSIONS
Both medication and EA+ medication can improve refractory schizophrenia patients'clinical symptoms, but the later has fewer untoward effects.
Xiong
Dian-zhang
DZ
People's Hospital of Yichun, Yichun 336000, China. 563349081@qq.com
Liu
Ling-ling
LL
Yi-Yan
Ye-Feng
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D003024:Clozapine