1176 – Changes Of Metabolic Parameters After Electroconvulsive Therapy In Schizophrenia - Preliminary Results

Abstract

Introduction

Metabolic abnormalities are commonly associated with antipsychotics treatment and may increase prevalence of cardiovascular disorders. There are some reports that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may reduce weight in depressed patients.

Objectives

The study is aimed at comparing metabolic safety of combination of ECT and antipsychotics with antipsychotics alone in schizophrenia.

Methods

Weight, abdominal circumference, body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma levels of cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, glucose, blood pressure (BP) were recorded for 12 schizophrenic subjects (4W and 8M, age 29.2±9.4 year) before (pre-ECT) and after (post-ECT) 12 to 15 bilateral ECT sessions combined with antipsychotics treatment. These were compared with data for 44 schizophrenic subjects (25W and 19M, age 35.7±13.8 year) collected before (pre-AP) and after (post-AP) in-hospital antipsychotics treatment.

Results

Results (mean±SD are given in Table 1.

Table 1

Conclusions

Our results might indicate that bilateral ECT neither improves nor worsens metabolic parameters in subjects with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics.