# The efficacy and safety of risperidone combined with modified electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of schizophrenia

## TL;DR

Combining risperidone with modified electroconvulsive therapy improves schizophrenia treatment without increasing side effects.

## Contribution

Demonstrates enhanced efficacy of risperidone combined with MECT in schizophrenia treatment.

## Key findings

- Combined treatment reduced PANSS scores more than risperidone alone.
- Combined treatment improved cognitive function and increased BDNF levels.
- No significant difference in adverse events between treatment groups.

## Abstract

To explore the efficacy and safety of risperidone combined with modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Clinical records of 180 patients with schizophrenia, treated at the Third Hospital of Heilongjiang Province from June 2022 to October 2024, were retrospectively analyzed. The cohort included 90 patients treated with risperidone combined with MECT matched to a cohort treated with risperidone alone in a 1:1 ratio. The main outcome was the change in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score. Cognitive function, cytokine levels, and adverse events (AEs) before and after treatment were evaluated.

After treatment, the scores of PANSS general psychopathology, PANSS-positive, and PANSS-negative in both groups decreased compared to before treatment, and were significantly lower in patients receiving risperidone combined with MECT than in patients receiving risperidone alone (P<0.05). The combined treatment was associated with lower non-perseverative errors and higher correct responses than risperidone monotherapy (P<0.05). The levels of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in both groups decreased compared to before treatment. In contrast, the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) increased compared to before treatment, and were higher in patients receiving the combined treatment compared to the risperidone monotherapy group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence or total number of AEs between the two groups (P>0.05)

Compared with the use of risperidone alone, the combination of risperidone and MECT is more effective in treating schizophrenia, with no increase in AEs.