Psychiatry Investigation  2014;11(2):210-213

doi:10.4306/pi.2014.11.2.210

Electroconvulsive Therapy on Severe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Comorbid Depressive Symptoms.

Xiaohui LIU 1 ; Hong CUI ; Qiang WEI ; Ying WANG ; Keyong WANG ; Chen WANG ; Chunyan ZHU ; Xinhui XIE

Affiliations

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Keywords

Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Electroconvulsive therapy; Depression

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is not currently used as a first-line treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, several related case reports have demonstrated that ECT seems to be effective for severe OCD, especially when first-line therapies have failed. In this study, we describe the courses, detailed parameters, effects, and follow-up information relating to three patients with severe OCD who were treated by modified bifrontal ECT after their first-line anti-OCD treatments pharmacotherapy, behavioral therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy failed. The number of ECT procedures administered in each case is as follows: Case 1, eight; Case 2, three; and Case 3, four. In all three cases, the patients' depressive symptoms improved considerably after the ECT procedures. In addition, the condition of all three patients' OCD significantly improved and remained stable at regular follow-ups. ECT may play an effective role in treating severe OCD.