ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of complications after ECT in patients with schizophrenia.

Study Design: Retrospective study

Place and Duration: Institute of Psychiatry Baqai Medical University, Karachifor sixteen months duration from June 2019 to September 2020.

Methods: Total 120 patients of both genders were presented in this study. Patients were aged between 20-70years. Patients detailed demographics age, sex and mean BMI were recorded after taking informed written consent. Patients ofschizophrenia received electro convulsive treatment (ECT). Frequency of immediate complications was observed after each session of ECT and at the end of ECT frequency of long term complications were observed. Complete data was analyzed by SPSS 24.0 version.

Results: Total 65 (54.17%) were males and 55 (45.83%) were females in this study. Mean age of the patients were 40.14±3.45 years with mean BMI 22.14±6.12 kg/m2. Mean ECT sessions was 88.13±6.87 . Mean hospitalization stay was 3.4±2.04 weeks. Frequency of immediate complications were 25 (20.83%) among patients after ECT session. Among 20.83%, frequency of body aches was 7(8.83%), headache was in 11 (9.17%), frequency of transient amnesia was among 3 (2.5%) and hypertension was among 4 (3.33%). Significatly no any delay complications were observed in continuously sessions among enrolled cases.

Conclusion: We concluded in this study that the use of ECT sessions in patients of schizophrenia was effective because no any delay complications were observed in this treatment.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, ECT, Treatment Sessions