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Original ArticleOpen Access
Continuation Electroconvulsive Therapy in Schizophrenia : A Pirot Study
Chanpattana W 
Continuation and maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT-C & ECT-M) has been
used to control schizophrenic patients for more than 50 years. In spite of this, there has been no
prospective study made of this treatment. Most of the information comprises naturalistic studies
or case reports. As a result many unanswered questions concerning ECT-C & ECT-M remain,
including its therapeutic efficacy. This pilot study was prospectively completed on 16 schizophrenic
patients, suffering acute exacerbations in order to determine the merits of ECT-C. After
acute treatment using only ECT, 12 patients were identified as ECT responders and enrolled in
this study. No neuroleptic drugs were used. Diazepam was the only medication prescribed to
control agitation on prn basis. The duration of the study was 6 months. Bilateral ECT was used
throughout the study, after the acute treatment. Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), Brief
Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Thai Mental State Exam (TMSE) were used to measure
the outcome. A total of 8 patients completed the study and 4 dropped out. There were no relapses
and all measurements progressed satisfactorily. There were no serious side effects, in particular
no cognitive impairment. This study supports the therapeutic efficacy of ECT-C in schizophrenia.
used to control schizophrenic patients for more than 50 years. In spite of this, there has been no
prospective study made of this treatment. Most of the information comprises naturalistic studies
or case reports. As a result many unanswered questions concerning ECT-C & ECT-M remain,
including its therapeutic efficacy. This pilot study was prospectively completed on 16 schizophrenic
patients, suffering acute exacerbations in order to determine the merits of ECT-C. After
acute treatment using only ECT, 12 patients were identified as ECT responders and enrolled in
this study. No neuroleptic drugs were used. Diazepam was the only medication prescribed to
control agitation on prn basis. The duration of the study was 6 months. Bilateral ECT was used
throughout the study, after the acute treatment. Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), Brief
Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Thai Mental State Exam (TMSE) were used to measure
the outcome. A total of 8 patients completed the study and 4 dropped out. There were no relapses
and all measurements progressed satisfactorily. There were no serious side effects, in particular
no cognitive impairment. This study supports the therapeutic efficacy of ECT-C in schizophrenia.
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