Combined use of ECT with aripiprazole

Abstract

This case report is on the combined use of electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) with a partial dopamine agonist, aripiprazole, in the treatment of a 30-year-old man with chronic and refractory paranoid schizophrenia. The patient had been under high doses of typical and atypical antipsychotics with a lack of control of the symptoms, characterized by agitation, suspiciousness, and obsessive fears. ECT therapy was started while receiving antipsychotic treatment and aripiprazole was added to the pharmacological treatment after six sessions of ECT. The convulsive threshold and the seizure duration did not significantly change after the treatment with aripiprazole was initiated. There was a clinical improvement after the combined treatment with ECT and aripiprazole and the combination was well tolerated.

• Aripiprazole
• ECT
• schizophrenia