Drug therapy versus electroconvulsive therapy for refractory schizophrenia: report of a case with 14 years of follow-up.
The long-term efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for refractory schizophrenia is rarely reported. We report the case of a 38-year-old female patient with refractory schizophrenia who was treated with ECT for 14 years (from 24 years of age). Case records of clinical treatment and laboratory tests are described and analyzed. During the first 11 years, the patient was treated with ECT as an adjunct to antipsychotic drugs, but the effectiveness was unstable. For the remaining 3 years she was treated with antipsychotic drugs as an adjunct to ECT and her condition stabilized as she gradually recovered social function. We summarize the clinical characteristics, therapy regimen, long-term effectiveness, and safety of this interesting case.
ECT Therapy Department, Institute of Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, PR China.
Wei-Min
WM
Dang
Tian-Hang
TH
Zhou
Mo
M
Zhou
Han-Zhi
HZ
Luo
Wen-Sheng
WS
Huang
Qing-Mei
QM
Kong
Lian-Sheng
LS
Gao
Hong-Ping
HP
Yao
Jin
J
Pang
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D003024:Clozapine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003024:Clozapine; D000077152:Olanzapine