Linked Life Data

10220120

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/10220120

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1999-6-1
pubmed:abstractText
Clozapine therapy does not produce the rapid response that may be required in severely disturbed patients. The latter, not uncommonly, obstruct treatment by refusing to give blood for haematological monitoring or refusing to swallow tablets. Whereas electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used for rapid behavioural control, the effects wane once the treatment course comes to an end. This paper reports an alternative strategy in such patients--combined jointly initiated therapy with clozapine and ECT. Six disturbed patients with treatment resistant schizophrenia were given a course of 12 ECT over 6 weeks. Blood was drawn for clozapine monitoring during the first anaesthetic, allowing the introduction of clozapine on day 6. There was a mean 32% improvement in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores at week 6. This improvement persisted after the cessation of ECT, by which time all patients were compliant with blood testing and tablet taking. There were no adverse reactions apparent in the combination of the two therapies. Elective combined ECT and clozapine therapy may be useful in treatment-resistant schizophrenics where the clinical state necessitates a rapid therapeutic response and where blood tests are refused. A possible synergistic reaction between clozapine and ECT is worthy of further investigation.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
0268-1315
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
14
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
69-72
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1999
pubmed:articleTitle
Elective combined electroconvulsive and clozapine therapy.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK. david.james@cableinet.co.uk
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article