In addition to antipsychotics, there appears to be a role for mood stabilizing drugs (lithium, Depakote®, or Tegretol®), particularly for individuals with an affective component to their illness or evidence of periodic cycling of symptoms.
Antidepressants have also been effective in reducing concomitant symptoms of depression. There is little evidence that any of these medications, in the absence of an antipsychotic, will be sufficient. In prescribing these medications, the clinician must be mindful of the need for patient compliance in order to receive any benefit from mood stabilizers or antidepressants.
Although inappropriately used in the past for schizophrenia, ECT should be considered for intractable catatonia or severe agitation non-responsive to medications. Parental lorazepam has also been shown to be effective in temporarily alleviating catatonia .