ECT in a patient with Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia, with dopamine transporter visualisation using 123I-Ioflupane SPET

A 58-year old woman with chronic schizophrenia developed worsening parkinsonian symptoms over the previous 6 years, and was eventually diagnosed as having Parkinson’s disease. Antipsychotics were stopped because they worsened these symptoms. Antiparkinsonian treatment led to a significant increase in delusions and behavioural disorganisation. The patient underwent electroconvulsive-therapy which improved both her psychiatric and motor symptoms. After treatment, 123I-Ioflupane uptake was mildly increased in the left caudate nucleus, but uptake in right caudate nucleus was lower than in a pretreatment scan.