title: Effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy in a patient with a treatment-resistant major depressive episode and comorbid body dysmorphic disorder.
abstract: A 24-year-old man experiencing comorbid body dysmorphic disorder since age 16 years, complicated in recent months by a major depressive episode with psychotic features, showed resistance to various drug and psychotherapy combinations. We suggested electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to overcome treatment resistance. After 1 ECT cycle, mood and anxiety symptoms improved significantly, delusional interpretations and ideas of reference subsided, and dysmorphophobic symptoms improved as well. Six months later, the patient was doing well with a mood stabilizer/antipsychotic combination. Electroconvulsive therapy may improve symptoms of comorbid body dysmorphic disorder along with mood improvement in treatment-resistant depressive disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Villa Rosa, Suore Ospedaliere of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Viterbo, Italy. rapinesi.chiara@libero.it
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rapinesi
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serata
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Casale
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carbonetti
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fensore
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scatena
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caccia
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Pietro
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angeletti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tatarelli
authors.forename: Georgios D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kotzalidis
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giradi
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003702:Delusions / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D061218:Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents