EFFECTIVENESS OF ECT IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSONISM

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been used to treat the psychiatric complications of Parkinson's disease. Concurrent improvement of parki nsonian motor symptoms has been noted. This retrospective study compar ed the outcomes of 25 patients with parkinsonism receiving ECT for psy chiatric indications with outcomes of 25 patients (matched for age and gender) without neurological disease also receiving ECT for psychiatr ic indications. Significant improvement in psychiatric symptoms was no ted following ECT for both groups. No differences in efficacy of ECT w ere found between the two groups. Fourteen of the 25 patients with Par kinson's symptoms were noted to have at least transient improvement in motor function at discharge. ECT is an effective treatment for patien ts with parkinsonism and psychiatric comorbidity.