Comparative study of effectiveness of augmentation with ECT in clozapine resistant schizophrenia (CRS) and non-clozapine resistant schizophrenia (Non-CRS).

There is limited evidence for different treatment strategies in patients with clozapine resistant schizophrenia (CRS). To determine the effectiveness of ECT in patients with clozapine resistant schizophrenia and compare the same with a group of patients with non-clozapine resistant schizophrenia, receiving ECT. Out of a total of 68 patients with schizophrenia, 27 (38.66%) of patients had CRS. With 6 ECTs, there was a significant reduction in PANSS positive, negative, general psychopathology, prosocial score and depression symptoms in the CRS (p < 0.001) and Non-CRS group (p < 0.001), but no statistically significant difference was seen between the 2 groups in terms of proportion of patients showing >40% response on PANSS total score. The reduction in PANSS score of >40% in CRS group was seen in 48.1% of patients in the positive symptoms subscale, in 25.9% of patients in negative symptoms subscale, in 46.7% of cases in the general psychopathology subscale, in 44.4% of the patients in Depression subscale, in 29.6% of the patients in the modified prosocialsubscaleand in 29.6% of the patients in total PANSS score. ECT is an effective augmentation strategy for patients with CRS and it is as effective as when used in patients with non-CRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]