A comparison study of MECT combining clozapine in the treatment of treatment- resistant schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: To understand the efficacy and side effects of modified electroconvulsive therapy （MECT） in treatment -refractory schizophrenia. METHODS: 100 treatment- refractory schizophrenia patients were divided randomly into two groups, 50 patients were treaded with MECT combining clozapine, the others were treaded with clozapine. Effects and side effects were assessed with brief psychiatric rating scale （BPRS） and treatment emergent symptome scale （TESS） before and afterl, 2, 4, 8 weeks treatment. RESULTS: The score of BPRS were significantly lower（P〈0.01） in MECT combining clozapine- treatment group than single treatment in clozapine group; After two weeks treatment, the score of TESS were significantly lower in MECT combining clozapine-treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: MECT was effective in treatment-refractory schizophrenia, and it had little side effects.