Effectiveness of ECT in patients with parkinsonism

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been used to treat the psychiatric complications of Parkinson's disease. Concurrent improvement of parkinsonian motor symptoms has been noted. This retrospective study compared the outcomes of 25 patients with parkinsonism receiving ECT for psychiatric indications with outcomes of 25 patients (matched for age and gender) without neurological disease also receiving ECT for psychiatric indications. Significant improvement in psychiatric symptoms was noted following ECT for both groups. No differences in efficacy of ECT were found between the two groups. Fourteen of the 25 patients with Parkinson's symptoms were noted to have at least transient improvement in motor function at discharge. ECT is an effective treatment for patients with parkinsonism and psychiatric comorbidity.