Electroconvulsive therapy in Lorazepam non-responsive catatonia.

Abstract

AIM:

To compare the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with risperidone in the treatment of lorazepam non-responsive catatonia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Inpatients with non-affective catatonia (n= 18) non-responsive to at least five-day trial of lorazepam (6-8 mg/day) were randomised into two groups in a double blind randomised design. Written informed consent was obtained. Four were dropped from the trial as they were found to have depressive catatonia. One group received true ECT (thrice weekly, n=8) plus oral placebo while the other received sham ECT plus risperidone (4-6 mg/ day). Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS) was administered twice weekly to assess improvement in catatonic symptoms over a period of three weeks. The two groups were compared using two-way RMANOVA.

RESULTS:

BFCRS scores reduced markedly over treatment course and this reduction was more profound in the ECT group (p=0.035). Shorter the duration of illness greater was the response (lower scores of BFCRS).

CONCLUSIONS:

Superior clinical efficacy of ECT over neuroleptics in catatonia is confirmed by this randomized clinical trial.

• Authors: K Girish, Neeraj S Gill
• Journal: Indian journal of psychiatry (Indian J Psychiatry) Vol. 45 Issue 1 Pg. 21-5 (Jan 2003) ISSN: 0019-5545 [Print] India
• PMID: 21206808 (Publication Type: Journal Article)