Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of continuation Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in preventing relapse in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
Methods: Schizophrenia patients were defined in three groups such as patients who received only AP treatment (only AP), patients, who received acute ECT only during hospitalization (aECT + AP), patients who received acute ECT and continuation ECT (a-cECT + AP). Only AP group, aECT+AP group, and a-cECT + AP group were compared according to positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores.
Results: As per comparison of only AP group, aECT+AP group and a+cECT+AP groups in terms of after discharge PANSS and after discharge BPRS scores for 1st month, 3rd month and 6th month; 3rd and 6th month’s PANSS scores of a+cECT+AP group were statistically significantly lower than other two groups. 1st month’s BPRS scores of a+cECT+AP group were statistically significantly higher than other two groups. 6th month’s BPRS of a+cECT+AP group were statistically significantly lower than only AP group. There were no significant differences between 1st month’s PANSS and 3rd month’s BPRS scores of the three groups.
Conclusions: This study suggests that, in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, who have responded to an acute course of ECT, continuation ECT in combination with antipsychotics was more effective than antipsychotics alone in preventing relapse.