Observation on the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture combined with small dose of clozapine in clinical treatment of refractory schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) in combination with small dose of clozapine on clinical symptoms of refractory schizophrenia patients so as to evaluate its validity and security. METHODS: Eighty schizophrenia patients were randomized into medication group and EA + medication group (n=40/group). Patients of medication group were treated with conventional oral administration of clozapine (50-100 mg/d to 200-500 mg/d, for 8 weeks) and those of EA + medication group treated by EA of Baihui(GV 20) and bilateral Taiyang (EX-HN 5) and oral administration of clozapine (50 mg/d to 100-150 mg/d). EA was given to the patients, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Scores of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and the Untoward Effect Symptom Scale (TESS) were used to assess the therapeutic effect. RESULTS: Following treatment, PANSS scores for positive symptoms and the common psychiatric symptoms of the medication and EA + medication groups all decreased evidently from the 2rd week on (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and those of the negative symptoms reduced obviously from the 4th week on (P < 0.05). Comparison between two groups showed no significant differences in PANSS scores for positive and negative symptoms and the common psychiatric symptoms after the treatment (P > 0.05). But TESS score of EA+ medication group was evidently lower than that of medication group (P < 0.01), suggesting an apparently fewer untoward effects in EA + medication group. Of the two 40 cases in medication and EA+ medication groups, 6 (15%) and 5 (12.5%) were cured, 8 and 8 (20%) experienced marked improvement in their symptoms, 17 (42.5%) and 16 (40%) had an improvement, 9 (22.5%) and 11 (27.5%) failed, with the effective rates being 77.5% and 72.5% separately. CONCLUSION: Both medication and EA+ medication can improve refractory schizophrenia patients'clinical symptoms, but the later has fewer untoward effects.