Abstract:

The effect of a series of ECT treatments on the CSF 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations was studied in the 10 patients suffering from chronic treatment-resistant schizophrenia. The clinical improvement of the patients was assessed with BPRS weekly.

Total BPRS scores significantly decreased after a series of ECT treatments. And positive, negative, thinking disturbance, withdrawal/retardation and hostility/suspiciousness symptomsubscale scores were also decreased significantly after ECT treatments. But anxiety/depression symptom subscale score did not show statistically significant change.

The CSF 5-HT concentrations significantly decreased after a series of ECTs. But the CSF 5-HIAA concentrations showed a trend to decrease which was not statistically significant.

Percentile improvement on total BPRS score was positively corelated with pre-ECT concentration of CSF 5-HT showed the better clinical improvement. And percentile improvement on total BPRS scores showed significant negative correlation with change in the concentration of 5-HT after ECT treatments.

These results suggest that ECT may be effective in the treatment of treatment-resistant chornic schizophrenia and, although it's mechanism is still unknown, may affect the central serotonergic system in schizophrenics, which may be related to the clinical improvement after a series of ECTs.