@article{Raja_Liaqat_Javed_Naseem_Wali_2018, title={ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY (ECT) FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME (NMS) IN ADULTS: Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome}, volume={68}, url={https://www.pafmj.org/PAFMJ/article/view/214}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Objective:</strong> To determine the efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for the management of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) in adults.<br><strong>Study Design: </strong>Open label, unblinded series.<br><strong>Place and Duration of Study:</strong> This study was carried out at the Department of Neurology, Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from Jan 2015 to Dec 2015.<br><strong>Material and Methods:</strong> All the patients with the diagnosis of NMS during the study period were included in the study. Consective non-probability sampling technique was used. Patients were divided into two groups; uncomplicated and complicated cases of NMS.<br><strong>Results:</strong> A total of nineteen patients were included in this pilot study. Out of all, thirteen (68.4%) were males and six (31.6%) were females. Mean age of the patients was 35.05 (SD 13.362) years. The drug classes causing NMS were antipsychotic medicines in 73.7% of patients and antiemetics in 26.3% of patients. Mean electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) sessions given were 6.16 (SD 2.062). Following treatment n=16 (84.2%) patients had complete recovery while n=3 (15.3%) patients died.<br><strong>Conclusion:</strong> In this small, open label, unblinded study ECT appears effective and safe in treating NMS in adults. Larger randomized studies will help to confirm data emerging from this preliminary study.</p>}, number={3}, journal={Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal}, author={Raja, Waseem and Liaqat, Jahanzeb and Javed, Muhammad Umar and Naseem, Arshad and Wali, Waseem}, year={2018}, month={Oct.}, pages={445–49} }