ECT and tardive dyskinesia: two cases and a review

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Tardive dyskinesia is a challenging neurological disorder often associated with antipsychotic medication.
• Current management strategies for tardive dyskinesia have limitations.

Observation:

• Two patients with major functional disorders, who also had tardive dyskinesia, underwent electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
• A notable improvement in tardive dyskinesia symptoms was observed during the course of ECT treatments.

Findings:

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) led to dramatic remissions in tardive dyskinesia in both patients.
• The positive effects of ECT on tardive dyskinesia were sustained at a 1-year follow-up assessment.

Implications:

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may represent a viable therapeutic option for managing tardive dyskinesia, particularly in patients with comorbid functional disorders.
• Further research is warranted to explore the efficacy and mechanisms of ECT in tardive dyskinesia treatment.