Efficacy of Different Antipsyhotics in Combination with ECT in Resistant Schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction

Combination different antipsyhotics with ECT in treatment resistant schizophrenia has been reported. However, the result are controversial. Our study investigated the long-term effects of combination ECT with three different antipsyhotic (haloperidol, amisulpride, olanzapine) in treatment of resistant schizophrenia.

Aims

The aims of our study were to investigated the long-term effects of combination ECT with three different antipsyhotic in treatment in resistant schizophrenia.

Object and methods

The clinical study was a naturalistic, prospective, open labelled, active controlled study in adult outpatients of both genders suffering from treatment resistant schizophrenia, (Dg F20) with follow-up of 2 years. The patient received amisulpride n=16 in range 50-200 mg/ mean daily doses 75,42. Haloperidol n=19, range 10-15 mg/day, mean daily doses 14,20 – 24,00. And olanzapine n=21, 5-15mg daily, mean daily doses 7,43.ECT was applied (8.0sec, and 0.8 amp) (Thymatron system IV somatic) in nine applications, twice a week. Clinical efficacy, was estimated using the ICD-10, PANNS and CGI psychometric scales.

Results

According to the result, the most effective treatment was combinatin with olananzapine plus ECT, than haloperidol plus ECT, while amisulprid plus ECT had lower clinical efficacy. Olanzapine plus ECT, was significantly superior in all scale scores vs amisulpiride plus ECT, as well as haloperidol plus ECT except for PANSS-P (t=1,85, p>0,05). During the study, 38 of 70 patients were withdrawn due to treatment failure (n=21), side effects (n=6)and non compliance (n=11).

Conclusions

Our steady show that the combination of different antipsycotic and ECT, is more effective in treatment of resistant schizophrenia.