Effective electroconvulsive therapy for stupor in the high risk patient: a report of two cases

We report two cases of stupor in which the patients were safely treated by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) despite high risk conditions. Case 1 was a 72 year old schizophrenic woman who had developed catatonic stupor and had joint contractures as a complication of rheumatoid arthritis. Case 2 was a 52 year old woman who developed a stuporous state which was complicated by severe dehydration with hypernatremia. In both cases, psychotic symptoms were improved by ECT without event. Careful application of ECT seemed to be effective and safe even for stupor in high risk patients.