Combination of ECT and clozapine in drug-resistant schizophrenia

ECT augmentation of clozapine for clozapine-resistant schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) is common and debilitating. A subgroup of patients even has clozapine-resistant schizophrenia (CRS). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) augmentation of clozapine for CRS. Systematic literature search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on ECT augmentation of clozapine in CRS. Co-primary outcomes included symptomatic improvement at post-ECT assessment and study endpoint. Eighteen RCTs (n = 1769) with 20 active treatment arms were identified and meta-analyzed. Adjunctive ECT was superior to clozapine regarding symptomatic improvement at post-ECT assessment (Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) = -0.88, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): -1.33 to -0.44; I² = 86%, P = 0.0001) and endpoint assessment (SMD: -1.44, 95%CI: -2.05 to -0.84; I² = 95%, P < 0.00001), separating as early as week 1-2 (SMD = -0.54, 95%CI: -0.88 to -0.20; I² = 77%, P = 0.002). Adjunctive ECT was also superior regarding study-defined response at post-ECT assessment (53.6% vs. 25.4%, Risk Ratio (RR) = 1.94, 95%CI: 1.59-2.36; I² = 0%, P < 0.00001, number-needed-to-treat (NNT) = 3, 95%CI: 3-5) and endpoint assessment (67.7% vs. 41.4%, RR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.38-1.99; I² = 47%, P < 0.00001, NNT = 4, 95%CI: 3-8), and remission at post-ECT assessment (13.3% vs. 3.7%, RR = 3.28, 95%CI: 1.80-5.99; I² = 0%, P = 0.0001, NNT = 13, 95%CI: 6-100) and endpoint assessment (23.6% vs. 13.3%, RR = 1.80, 95%CI: 1.39 to 2.35; I² = 5%, P < 0.0001, NNT = 14, 95%CI: 6-50). Patient-reported memory impairment (24.2% vs. 0%; RR = 16.10 (95%CI: 4.53-57.26); I² = 0%, P < 0.0001, number-needed-to-harm (NNH) = 4, 95%CI: 2-14) and headache (14.5% vs 1.6%; RR = 4.03 (95%CI: 1.54-10.56); I² = 0%, P = 0.005, NNH = 8, 95%CI: 4-50) occurred more frequently with adjunctive ECT. No significant group differences were found regarding discontinuation and other adverse effects. Despite increased frequency of self-reported memory impairment and headache, ECT augmentation of clozapine is a highly effective and relatively safe treatment for CRS.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018089959.

Achieving stable remission with maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in a patient with treatment-resistant schizophrenia: A case report

RATIONALE

Up to one third of all schizophrenic patients are classified as having treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). This subgroup faces remarkable medical and psychosocial damages, and pharmacotherapy is often limited due to nonresponse and/or side effects. Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (M-ECT) might be effective in TRS.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We present a case of a 26-year-old male patient with a TRS.

DIAGNOSES

He received a treatment series of ECT sessions and a course of 24 M-ECTs.

INTERVENTIONS

The entire treatment was tolerated without significant side effects.

OUTCOMES

Moreover, the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale (PSYRATS) scores for both positive and negative symptoms decreased and remained stable over the course of M-ECT.

LESSONS

Because of the remarkable improvement in the negative and positive symptom clusters, we propose systematic examinations in the field of M-ECT in TRS patients. These studies should integrate long-term outcome and tolerance measurements, gaining insight into the optimal duration of treatment for this indication.

Combined use of clozapine and ECT: a review

OBJECTIVE

This paper aims to review the available evidence for the use of clozapine and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in combination.

METHODOLOGY

Electronic searches were carried out to identify reports describing the combined use of clozapine and ECT.

RESULTS

Forty reports including 208 patients were identified. The majority of reports were in the form of case reports and case series, with few retrospective and open-label studies. The majority of patients were aged between 18 and 65 years and diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Most of the patients refractory to clozapine were started on ECT as an augmentation therapy; however, in some reports, both ECT and clozapine were started concurrently, and in few cases clozapine was started after ECT. In terms of effectiveness, 37.5-100% patients improved in short-term, and sustained long-term improvement (3 weeks to 24 months) was described in few studies. In terms of the side-effect profile, five patients each had delirium and tachycardia and only four patients were described to have prolonged seizures. Overall, the combination was considered effective and safe.

CONCLUSION

There is evidence for the effectiveness and safety of the clozapine-ECT combination and it should be used in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia who do not respond to clozapine.

Indian research: Focus on clozapine

Clozapine has been used in the treatment of schizophrenia for about two decades and extensive data have been accumulated with regard to its use in various parts of the world. However, in contrast to Western countries, there are few studies which have evaluated the usefulness of clozapine in Indian patients. This article attempts to review the available data on clozapine originating from India. This review reflects the fact that there are few studies from the Indian subcontinent and most of these are case reports. In view of the same, there is a need for further research to evaluate the effectiveness of clozapine in India.

Indian research on acute organic brain syndrome: Delirium

Delirium, though quite often referred to psychiatrists for management, does not find many takers for analysis, research and publications. Acute in onset, multiplicity of etiology and manifestations, high risk of mortality delirium is very rewarding in proper management and outcome. Delirium has a limited agenda on teaching programs, research protocols and therapeutic strategies. There is a dearth of Indian studies both in international and national scientific literature. This annotation is based on a Medline search for "delirium India" on Pubmed, which resulted in 54 articles. A search in Indian Journal of Psychiatry for "delirium" resulted in 38 published articles, "delirium tremens" showed up only five articles. The articles are primarily from the Indian Journal of Psychiatry with cross reference to articles on Pubmed or Google search on Indian studies and a few international studies.

Research on electroconvulsive therapy in India: An overview

The contribution of researchers from India in the field of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been substantial. Over 250 papers have been published by authors from India in the past five decades on this issue; about half of these have appeared in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry. This article summarizes the papers on ECT research that have appeared in the Journal. A bulk of these articles has focused on establishing the efficacy in different disorders. Considerable numbers of papers describe refinement in the ECT procedure, including anesthetic modification, ECT machine and EEG monitoring. Papers on neurobiology of ECT and long-term follow-up of ECT-treated patients form a minority. Despite the decline in the use of ECT across the globe, papers on ECT have only increased in the recent decades in the Journal.