Electroconvulsive therapy in drug-induced psychiatric states and neuroleptic malignant syndrome

J ECT. 2005 Jun;21(2):125-7. doi: 10.1097/01.yct.0000159325.08303.45.

Abstract

In the late-stage idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IDP), comorbid conditions such as depression and drug-induced psychosis may be observed. A patient with Parkinson disease, major depression, and paranoid psychosis who developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) as the result of the sudden termination of high-dose (1200 mg/d) levodopa treatment is presented in this report. Because the patient did not respond to other treatment modalities, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was applied, and a rapid improvement was observed both in the patient's NMS and also in Parkinson's and psychiatric symptoms, with no additional side effects other than transient post-ictal confusions. The application of ECT allowed the patient to remain stable for a 5-year period with a quite low dose of levodopa (300 mg/d). Later, the patient had two episodes of depressive and psychotic symptoms, which were again successfully treated with the ECT. We suggest that ECT might be an effective and life-saving therapy in patients with severe, drug-resistant NMS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antiparkinson Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiparkinson Agents / adverse effects
  • Dopamine Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Dopamine Agents / adverse effects*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / administration & dosage*
  • Levodopa / adverse effects*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome / complications
  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome / therapy*
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Psychoses, Substance-Induced / complications
  • Psychoses, Substance-Induced / therapy*

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Dopamine Agents
  • Levodopa