Electroconvulsive therapy as an adjunctive treatment for clozapine resistant schizophrenia
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Modern treatment options involving antipsychotics have improved outcomes, but a significant portion of those affected show insufficient reduction in their symptoms. Electroconvulsive therapy is a promising adjunctive therapy to resistant cases and has been shown by several studies to be significantly more effective at reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia, with minimal side effects. To date there have been very few randomized clinical studies, with most having been performed with small sample sizes.
This proposed study is ambitious in its scale of both recruitment of subjects, as well as its aim of following the patients for six months after the treatments. This will be performed to better understand not just the efficacy of ECT on reducing symptoms of schizophrenia, but also the therapeutic duration. This will be performed with the aim of developing better maintenance programs and reducing the relapse rate that is so detrimental to the schizophrenia community.