When it's the Time to Switch the Therapeutic Approach on Electroconvulsive Therapy for Residual Positive Symptoms in Schizophrenia?

Abstract

Introduction

Schizophrenia is clearly one of the most debilitating diseases. Luckily, in the past 20 years, there has been a wide and good change in symptomatology due to the new atypical antipsychotics. Still, there are patients who are treatment resistant after different adjustments like switching or adding antipsychotics. Most of the clinicians consider Clozapine the “last resort”. But what if it doesn’t work so well on some patients?

Objective

To determine the point when it's time to try electroconvulsive therapy in schizophrenia treatment-resistant patients or remain on conventional approach.

Aims

The aim of this work is to determine whether it's better for those patients who have residual positive symptoms to use oral/depot antipsychotics or to switch on electroconvulsive therapy.

Methods

This work presents the case of the patient C.D., 35 years, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia since 2008. Risperidone, Olanzapine, Aripiprazole were introduced during time, with some improvement on the positive symptomatology, but the patient developed several side-effects. At his last admission in our hospital, he came after a suicidal attempt caused by high anxiety and depression due to his false beliefs. Clozapine was introduced, but after one month of treatment, the patient still had the belief that his neighbours want to harm him somehow.

Results

The patient and his mother definitively refused electroconvulsive therapy because of their personal beliefs. He affirmed that he can live with this “low-dose” of suspiciousness which, unfortunately, had a negative impact on his social life.

Conclusions

We still recommend electroconvulsive therapy in these situations, even though, there are many misconceptions regarding this approach.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.