Comparison of ECT combined with atypical neuroleptic versus atypical neuroleptic in schizophrenic patients

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compared the efficiency between combination of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and atypical neuroleptic (Olanzapine) with single treatment of atypical neuroleptic (Olanzapine) in 22 schizophrenic patients in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. The patients were selected to either group of treatment by block randomization technique. Each patient was examined by researcher, using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), The UKU Side Effects Rating Scale (UKU), and Quality of Life Index (QL-Index) before initiating the treatment. The continuation of BPRS and UKU evaluation was done weekly during the 6 weeks treatment period. As for the QL-Index, the reassessment would be on the sixth week of research observation. The researcher find that the efficiency in combination treatment of ECT with atypical neuroleptic (Olanzapine) and the single treatment of atypical neuroleptic (Olanzapine) are significantly different (P<0.01) at week 1-5. However during the 6th week, both group of treatments are insignificantly different. The monitor of side effects between both, the combination treatment of ECT with atypical neuroleptic (Olanzapine) and the single treatment of atypical neuroleptic (Olanzapine) are not significantly different in any week during the intervention period. However, the researcher find several common side effects during intervention period, such as, fail memory and headache in combination treatment group as for common side effects in atypical neuroleptic (Olanzapine) group are polyuria/polydipsia and weight gain. The quality of life in both group of treatments improve significantly (P<0.01). But the comparative rate of improvement in quality of life between the combination treatment of ECT with atypical neuroleptic (Olanzapine) and single treatment of atypical neuroleptic (Olanzapine) are insignificantly different.