Rivastigmine Treatment for the Prevention of Electroconvulsive Therapy–Induced Memory Deficits in Patients With Schizophrenia
Clinical Neuropharmacology, 07/26/2012
Clinical Article
Stryjer R et al. – Findings suggest possible involvement of the acetylcholinergic system in mediation of cognitive deficits after Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and indicate possible beneficial effects of rivastigmine coadministration in minimizing some of these ECT-induced cognitive impairments.
Methods- This study examined the effects of rivastigmine, a selective central nervous system acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, with benefits on cognition in Alzheimer disease, on memory performance in patients with schizophrenia treated with ECT.
- Thirty inpatients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision schizophrenia treated with ECT were coadministered rivastigmine (3–4.5 mg/d) or placebo in a prospective, randomized, double–blind, placebo–controlled trial (maximum period of 4 weeks).
- Over the ECT course, scores on the cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment in subjects receiving placebo showed no significant change, whereas subjects receiving rivastigmine displayed decreased cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment scores, indicating cognitive improvement (P < 0.05).
