Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia and Graded Modified Electro Convulsive Therapy

Objectives: Schizophrenia, a debilitating psychiatric disorder, often presents with chronic and treatment- resistant symptoms. While anti-psychotic medications remain the mainstay of treatment, a subset of patients remains refractory. Reasons for treatment resistance are multiple, ranging from neurobiological anatomical to genetic, socio-familial, and personal factors, lifestyle, and pharmacodynamic factors. Material and Methods: A judicious mix of medication and graded modified electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is mostly helpful and helps in mitigating symptoms. Here we will describe 10 cases of treatment-resistant schizophrenia, which responded to a specific tailored approach. Medication and ECT were helpful in offering a reduction of symptoms. Results: All 10 cases were followed for 6 months, and it was seen that the patients who had received ECT during admission and who were on maintenance ECT showed a significant decrease in the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) score and improvement in their day-to-day functioning. Conclusion: A tailored-designed patient-specific protocol is desirable and effective.