ECT induced mania in catatonic schizophrenia.

INTRODUCTION: Electro-convulsive therapy is a brain stimulation technique which results in a seizure activity when electrical stimulus is applied. It is indicated for disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and catatonia and in cases where pharmacotherapy has failed. It can cause side effects like cardiovascular problems, cognitive impairment and mania. CASE REPORT: A 19years old male patient, Mr. A, presented to the OPD with parents. Patient was mute. Informants had complaints of decreased interaction, prefers to be alone, sitting idly, poor self-care since one year and maintaining postures for long hours, not speaking anything, and disturbed sleep since one month. He was diagnosed as Catatonic Schizophrenia and was started on Inj. Lorazepam 2mg BD, ECT was started. After receiving 2 ects patient was showing manic symptoms. He was started on Tab. Olanzapine -10mg and 8 ects were continued. DISCUSSION: ECT is a very effective treatment in cases of catatonia. ECT induced manic switch in depressed patients is considered as Bipolar I. There are no case reports suggesting ECT induced mania in catatonic schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: It is relatively common to see ECT induced mania in depressed patients, but the case discussed above has a rare nature. The exact mechanism for this remains to be unclear and a matter of research.