A session of modifi ed bilateral ECT was administered
using a brief-pulse constant energy machine.
Glycopyrrolate, ondansetron, and ranitidine were
used as pre-medications, and propofol (90 mg) was
the inducing agent. Succinyl-choline was the relaxing
agent. During the procedure, the duration of current
was 2 seconds, at frequency of 70 Hz and the pulse
width of 1 ms. The seizure duration was 28 seconds
(motor seizure). The next ECT was to be delivered 2 days
later, but to our surprise, the patient started talking
monosyllables 3 hours after the ECT session and as the
day passed by speech improved considerably. Next day
morning, his speech was clear, full of sentences, although
the volume was less and it was non-spontaneous. There
was a continuous improvement in his speech, and it was
almost normal after the third day of the ECT session.
Further, ECT sessions were withheld. The patient was
kept in hospital for further 1 week. After satisfaction
of the treating team, the patient was discharged with
a PANNS score of 46 and a GAF score of 61-70. This
patient is on continuous outpatient follow-up for past
3 months and is doing well on olanzapine 20 mg per
day. This patient recently attended a program dedicated
to the earning of livelihood by the recovered patients of
chronic psychiatric illnesses.