Abstract

Antipsychotics vs. ECT with Antipsychotics: A PANSS and SCORS Investigation in Paranoid Schizophrenia

Author(s): Jerry Jacob*

Background: Schizophrenia is one of the most overwhelming mental illness in India, affecting about 3 million people. Paranoid schizophrenia, the most common subtype, presents significant impairments in perception, thinking, language, memory, attention, and decision-making. Atypical antipsychotics has been considered as the mainline treatment approach. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is also administered under specific circumstances. ECT combined with antipsychotics, shows promising results in symptom reduction, though its impact on severity of symptoms and cognitive functions in paranoid schizophrenia is under-studied.

Materials and methods: The study design was quasi experimental design. The study included 49 patients with paranoid schizophrenia at Manopchar Hospital, Raipur. Patients (18-50 years old) were divided into two groups: 21 received anti-psychotics, and 28 received both antipsychotics and ECT. Treatment lasted 40 days, with 7 ECT sessions for the combined group. Symptom severity and cognitive functions were assessed using PANSS and SCoRS before and after treatment. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Hedge’s g.

Results: Both groups showed significant symptom reduction, but the combined treatment group had greater improvements in positive symptoms (Hedge’s g=1.19). Cognitive functions improved in both groups, with the combined group showing better outcomes, especially in processing speed (Hedge’s g=0.49).

Conclusion: Combining ECT with anti-psychotics is more effective than anti-psychotic treatment alone, leading to better outcomes in symptom reduction and cognitive improvement in patients with paranoid schizophrenia.

• PDF