Treatment of schizophrenia with electroconvulsive therapy - antipsychotic drugs combination

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been used to treat schizophrenia since the procedure was introduced in 1938. The introduction of effective pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia and mood disorders led to a drop in the use of ECT during the 1960s and 1970s. When the limitations in the efficacy of antipsychotic drugs and the adverse effects of these agents were recognized, interest in ECT as a therapy for treatment of resistant schizophrenia (TRS) returned. Nevertheless, indications for the use of electroconvulsive therapy in schizophrenia and its place in the treatment hierarchy for patients with this disorder are unclear because of the dearth of quality research in this field. The controversy over the efficacy of ECT for the treatment of schizophrenia, especially the treatment resistant one, has more recently been embodied in the opposing recommendations of a number of different groups. Literature review (a few randomized controlled trials, mostly uncontrolled studies such as open trials, retrospective studies and case reports) indicates that combined treatment with antipsychotics and electroconvulsive therapy is possibly superior to each method when used alone. Combination of ECT and clozapine represents additional help and most of the data suggest it is both safe and effective. There are only few studies concerning the newest atypical antipsychotics. Different predictors of therapeutic outcome were identified. The literature review indicates that the combination of ECT and antipsychotic drugs may be considered as a treatment strategy for patients with schizophrenia, especially those refractory to conventional treatments. Side effects profile of this strategy does not differ from traditional ECT treatments.