{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Maintenance ECT in schizophrenia: A systematic review.
{Author}: Ward HB;Szabo ST;Rakesh G;
{Journal}: Psychiatry Res
{Volume}: 264
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 06 2018
{Factor}: 11.225
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.033
{Abstract}: Relapse after discontinuation of ECT is significant in patients with schizophrenia. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine use of M-ECT in schizophrenia to guide clinical decision making for relapse prevention in schizophrenia. We reviewed studies examining the role of continuation (C-ECT) and maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (M-ECT) in schizophrenia. Following PRISMA guidelines, we included randomized controlled trials, open label trials, retrospective chart reviews, case reports, and case series in this review. We evaluated adjunctive pharmacological regimens; ECT treatment parameters, including frequency, duration of continued treatment, electrode placement; clinical outcomes including cognitive side effects and relapse rates from included studies. Our findings suggest M-ECT could provide an effective form of relapse prevention in these patients and persistent cognitive side effects are minimal.