The impact of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on cognitive function and quality of life in individuals with schizophrenia

Objective. This study investigates the impact of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on cognitive function and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia, often resistant to conventional treatments, may benefit from alternative approaches such as ECT. While ECT is effective in managing psychiatric symptoms, its effects on cognitive functioning and QoL remain debated. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 66 patients with schizophrenia who underwent ECT between January and June 2024. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), psychiatric symptoms were evaluated with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and QoL was measured using the EuroQol-5-Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire. These measures were taken before and after six sessions of ECT. Results. The results indicated significant improvements in psychiatric symptoms, with BPRS scores decreasing from 51.73 to 36.41 (p < 0.001). QoL also improved, with statistically significant gains in EQ-5D utility and subdomain scores (p < 0.001). Cognitive outcomes were more varied: 42.4% of patients showed cognitive improvement, while 25.8% experienced deterioration. Improvements in BPRS scores were positively correlated with better QoL, particularly in the pain and anxiety subdomains. Cognitive improvement, as indicated by MoCA scores, was linked to better QoL in the “usual activities” subdomain (p = 0.008). Conclusion. ECT shows promise in improving psychiatric symptoms and QoL in schizophrenia patients, but cognitive effects remain inconsistent. Further research is needed to optimize cognitive outcomes and assess the long-term impact of ECT in this population.