1. Electroconvulsive therapy as a treatment for refractory neuropsychiatric lupus with catatonia: three case studies and literature review.
- Author
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Bica BE, Moro AL, Hax V, Nicol NA, Campos GS, Rivera LM, da Costa AF, Xavier RM, and Monticielo OA
- Subjects
- Adult, Antipsychotic Agents therapeutic use, Brazil, Female, Humans, Immunosuppressive Agents therapeutic use, Treatment Failure, Treatment Outcome, Catatonia therapy, Electroconvulsive Therapy, Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System complications
- Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders associated with systemic lupus erythematosus are very common. Treatment generally consists of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive therapy; however, some cases are unresponsive. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a recognized treatment modality in psychiatry and is an option for refractory cases of neuropsychiatric lupus. This report describes three cases of neuropsychiatric lupus that improved with ECT after failure of antipsychotics and immunosuppressive therapy. All cases met DSM-5 criteria for catatonia (case 1: agitation, stereotypies, and grimacing; case 2: stupor, mutism, and grimacing; case 3: agitation, mutism, and stereotypies); therefore, ECT was indicated. This case series shows that ECT can be a therapeutic option in patients with neuropsychiatric lupus, especially when associated with catatonia and unresponsive to conventional treatment., (© The Author(s) 2015.)
- Published
- 2015
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