The Effect of Short-Term Electroconvulsive Treatment Plus Neuroleptics in Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder.

The effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) plus loxapine in nine patients with treatment-refractory schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder was studied in an open trial. Five of the nine patients (55.6%) improved significantly (>/=20%) in the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total scores by the end of the course of ECT. Improvement was greater in positive than in negative symptoms. A sixth patient improved 3-6 weeks after the completion of the acute course of ECT. Five patients who responded to ECT received maintenance ambulatory ECT; two patients remained improved for at least 6-9 months, whereas the other three relapsed within 4 months. Further study of the indications for and the effectiveness of ECT plus neuroleptic drugs in treatment-resistant schizophrenia is indicated.