Citation

Phutane VH, Thirthalli J, Kesavan M, Kumar NC, Gangadhar BN. Indian J. Psychiatry 2011; 53(2): 149-151.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/0019-5545.82544

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is prescribed for schizophrenia patients for various indications, in our country. However, official guidelines in other countries have been cautious in prescribing ECT for schizophrenia. To study the indications for which patients with schizophrenia receive ECT. We studied records of schizophrenia inpatients receiving ECT in one year (2005) (n=101) retrospectively, as well as the consecutive data of patients between May 2007 and June 2008 (n=101) prospectively. The various indications for ECT in schizophrenia were studied by frequency analysis. Of the 202 schizophrenia patients who received ECT, the most common reason was 'to augment pharmacotherapy' in (n=116) cases. The target symptoms for which ECT was prescribed the most was catatonia (n=72). The mean number of ECTs (SD) received was 8.4 (2.8). Augmentation of pharmacotherapy was the most common indication of ECT in patients with schizophrenia.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; female; male; Schizophrenia; aggression; schizophrenia; article; major clinical study; prescription; neuroleptic agent; retrospective study; treatment indication; electroconvulsive therapy; psychopharmacotherapy; mental patient; patient compliance; catatonia; symptom; visual analog scale; Indications; ECT; medical record review