Supplementary Material for: Augmentation of Antipsychotics with Electroconvulsive Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia Patients with Dominant Negative Symptoms: A Pilot Study of Effectiveness

<b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of the augmentation of antipsychotics (AP) with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) patients with dominant negative symptoms. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The study encompassed 34 patients aged 21-55 years, 47.1% of whom were female, who were diagnosed with TRS. Each patient underwent a course of ECT sessions combined with AP medications which had previously been found to be ineffective. Prior to ECT and within 3 days after the final ECT session, the participants were evaluated on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia and the Clinical Global Impression scales. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Augmentation of AP therapy with ECT led to a significant decrease in symptom severity in TRS patients with dominant negative symptoms, 58.8% of whom demonstrated at least a 25% decrease in the total PANSS score. The greatest reductions were observed in the general and positive PANSS subscales (mean ± SD: 11.35 ± 7.43 and 6.79 ± 5.23 patients), and the least significant in the negative symptoms subscale (5.03 ± 4.36 patients). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Augmentation of AP therapy with ECT in a group of TRS patients with dominant negative symptoms induced a significant decrease in symptom severity. The greatest reductions were obtained in general and positive symptoms and the least in negative symptoms.**<i>研究目的：</i>** 本研究旨在探讨电抽搐治疗（electroconvulsive therapy, ECT）联合抗精神病药（antipsychotics, AP）增效治疗，对以阴性症状为主要表现的难治性精神分裂症（treatment-resistant schizophrenia, TRS）患者的临床疗效。**<i>研究方法：</i>** 本研究共纳入34名年龄21~55岁的难治性精神分裂症患者，其中女性占比47.1%。所有受试者均接受此前被证实疗效不佳的抗精神病药物治疗联合电抽搐治疗疗程。在电抽搐治疗开始前及末次治疗后3日内，采用阳性和阴性症状量表（Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS）、卡尔加里精神分裂症抑郁量表及临床总体印象量表对患者进行评估。**<i>研究结果：</i>** 电抽搐治疗联合抗精神病药物增效治疗可显著降低以阴性症状为主要表现的难治性精神分裂症患者的症状严重程度，其中58.8%的患者PANSS总分较基线至少下降25%。症状改善最为显著的维度为PANSS一般症状与阳性症状子量表（均值±标准差：11.35±7.43、6.79±5.23），阴性症状子量表的减分幅度最小（5.03±4.36）。**<i>研究结论：</i>** 针对以阴性症状为主要表现的难治性精神分裂症患者，采用电抽搐治疗联合抗精神病药物增效治疗可显著改善其症状严重程度。其中一般症状与阳性症状的改善效果最为显著，阴性症状的改善程度最弱。