The application of electroconvulsive therapy and plasmapheresis for the management of refractory conditions in psychiatry

The present study included 36 patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia and affective disorders refractory to pharmacotherapy. The study has demonstrated the effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy with the use of an ESTER apparatus (ECT) and plasmapheresis (PP). ECT therapy was conducted using a 30 second electric charge at a pulse frequency of 27 Hz and duration of 0.5-1.5 ms. Under these conditions, the dose of ECT therapy was 150 mKl. Isolated electroconvulsive therapy and its combination with plasmapheresis decreased pathological manifestations of the disease in 29.4% and 42.1% of the patients respectively. Partial reduction in the former case was estimated at 52.9% compared with 52.6% in the latter case. Complications in the form of elevated arterial pressure, nausea, and vomiting after awakening, mnestic disorders, and tachycardia in the former and the latter cases were documented in 17.6% and 5.2% of the treated patients respectively.

electroconvulsive therapy, plasmapheresis, schizophrenia, affective disorders