Electroconvulsive Therapy in Clozapine-resistant Schizophrenia

Niuvanniemi Hospital

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder

Treatments: Device: electroconvulsive therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02159001

22014

Details and patient eligibility

About

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the oldest neuromodulation treatments still used in psychiatry. Only case reports and open label non-randomized studies have been published of ECT in clozapine-resistant schizophrenia patients. The purpose of this trial is to study the efficacy and cognitive effects of add-on ECT treatment (10-course) in schizophrenia patients taking clozapine.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 64 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• treatment-resistant to clozapine
• age 18 - 64 years
• capacity and willingness to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• serious somatic illness
• progressive neurological illness, recent brain damage or sequela of serious brain damage
• ECT less than 3 months prior to this trial

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

ECT treatment right after recruitment

Active Comparator group

Description:

This group receives electroconvulsive therapy treatment right after they are recruited.

Treatment:

Device: electroconvulsive therapy

ECT after 4 weeks period.

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

This group receives electroconvulsive therapy treatment after 4 weeks waiting period.

Treatment:

Device: electroconvulsive therapy