Combined electroconvulsive-clozapine therapy

Clin Neuropharmacol.2000 Jan-Feb;23(1):14-6. doi: 10.1097/00002826-200001000-00003.

Abstract

We reviewed 36 reported psychiatric patients who were treated with a combination of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and clozapine. The indication of the ECT-clozapine treatment was resistance to classical antipsychotic agents, clozapine, or ECT alone. Sixty-seven percent of the patients benefited from the combined treatment. In most of the patients, the combined treatment was safe and well tolerated. Adverse reactions occurred in 16.6% of the patients and included prolonged ECT-induced seizures (one case), supraventricular (one case) and sinus tachycardia, and blood pressure elevation. It seems that combined ECT-clozapine treatment is effective and safe. This strategy may be a therapeutic option in treatment-resistant patients.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bipolar Disorder / drug therapy
  • Bipolar Disorder / therapy
  • Clozapine / therapeutic use*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / drug therapy
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / therapy
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychotic Disorders / drug therapy
  • Psychotic Disorders / therapy*
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy
  • Schizophrenia / therapy

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Clozapine