Adjunctive electroconvulsive therapy for schizophrenia

The role of electroconvulsive therapy in schizophrenic patients is controversial. We assessed its use in Indian patients who generally present to hospital at a late stage in their disease.

We studied 48 schizophrenic patients, 30 of whom had chronic disease. Twenty-three patients were given drugs and 25, who were unsuitable for drug therapy alone, were also treated with electroconvulsive therapy. The global assessment scale score for overall individual functioning was used to assess the response.

The global assessment scores at admission for the drugs alone, and drugs and electroconvulsive therapy groups were 27±9.4 and 19±8.4. At discharge there was a significant improvement to 57±16 and 62±14.3.

Electroconvulsivetherapy may be an effective adjunctive treatment in Indian patients with schizophrenia who are unsuitable for drug therapy alone.