Publication: Effects of stimulus intensity on the efficacy of bilateral ECT in schizophrenia: A preliminary study
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0
Issued Date
2000
Resource Type
File Type
application/pdf
ISSN
63223
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-0034254841
Rights Holder(s)
Scopus
Bibliographic Citation
Biological Psychiatry. Vol 48, No.3 (2000), p.222-228
Suggested Citation
Chanpattana W., Chakrabhand M.L.S., Buppanharun W., Sackeim H.A. Effects of stimulus intensity on the efficacy of bilateral ECT in schizophrenia: A preliminary study. Biological Psychiatry. Vol 48, No.3 (2000), p.222-228. doi:10.1016/S0006-3223(00)00830-1 Retrieved from: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14740/7017
Abstract
Background: This preliminary study examined the effects of electrical stimulus intensity on the speed of response and efficacy of bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the treatment of schizophrenia. Methods: Sixty-two patients with schizophrenia received combination treatment with bilateral ECT and flupenthixol. Using a randomized, double-blind design, the effects of three dosages of the ECT electrical stimulus were examined. Patients were treated with a stimulus intensity that was just above seizure threshold, two-times threshold, or four-times threshold. Assessments of outcome used the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Global Assessment of Functioning, and the Mini-Mental State Exam. Results: Thirty-three of sixty- two patients met remitter criteria, including maintaining improvement over a 3-week stabilization period. The dosage groups were equivalent in the number of patients who met remitter criteria. The low-dose remitter group (n = 11) received more ECT treatments and required more days to meet remitter status than both the twofold (n = 11) and fourfold remitter groups (n = 11). There was no difference among the groups in change in global cognitive status as assessed by the Mini-Mental State Exam. Conclusions: This preliminary study indicates that treatment with high-dosage bilateral ECT speeds clinical response in patients with schizophrenia. There may be a therapeutic window of stimulus intensity in impacting on the efficacy of bilateral ECT, which needs further study. A more sensitive battery of cognitive tests should be used in future research. (C) 2000 Society of Biological Psychiatry.
Subject(s)
Adult
Article
Cognition
Electroconvulsive therapy
Female
Human
Major clinical study
Male
Priority journal
Rating scale
Schizophrenia
Stimulus response
Treatment outcome
Adult
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
Cognition Disorders
Double-Blind Method
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Schizophrenia
Severity of Illness Index
Treatment Outcome
Article
Cognition
Electroconvulsive therapy
Female
Human
Major clinical study
Male
Priority journal
Rating scale
Schizophrenia
Stimulus response
Treatment outcome
Adult
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
Cognition Disorders
Double-Blind Method
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Schizophrenia
Severity of Illness Index
Treatment Outcome