title: Continuation of ECT after recovery from transient, ECT-induced, postictal cortical blindness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transient, postictal cortical blindness is a rare adverse effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). There is no information on the safety of continuation of ECT in patients who recover from ECT-induced cortical blindness.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 18-year-old woman with paranoid schizophrenia experienced cortical blindness immediately after her first bifrontotemporal ECT treatment. There was complete, spontaneous recovery of vision after 6 hours. Neurological examination, computed tomography of the brain, and electroencephalographic study revealed no abnormality. A combination of circumstances suggested that continuation of ECT was desirable. After clearances from neurological and ophthalmological teams, she received 6 more ECT treatments, starting 9 days after the first.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After resumption of ECT, there was marked improvement in psychopathology across the ECT course. There was no recurrence of visual symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who experience transient, ECT-induced, postictal cortical blindness may not necessarily experience the same adverse effect on rechallenge with ECT.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors: Sushma
authors: S
authors: Sonavane
authors: Vivek
authors: V
authors: Bambole
authors: Abha
authors: A
authors: Bang
authors: Nilesh
authors: N
authors: Shah
authors: Chittaranjan
authors: C
authors: Andrade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001285:Atropine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019575:Blindness, Cortical / Q000209:etiology*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006024:Glycopyrrolate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010200:Panic; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014282:Trihexyphenidyl / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D014282:Trihexyphenidyl; D001285:Atropine; D006220:Haloperidol; D000077152:Olanzapine; D006024:Glycopyrrolate