ECT for Neuropathic Pain-Case Report From Japan

Out on PubMed, from clinicians in Fukuoka, Japan is this case report:

Efficacy of Electroconvulsive Therapy for Neuropathic Pain Comorbid with Major Depression.

Ueda M, Konishi Y, Sakurai K, Ikenouchi A, Yoshimura R.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2020 Dec 5;2020:8818553. doi: 10.1155/2020/8818553. eCollection 2020.PMID: 33354377

The abstract is copied below:

We report a case of a 41-year-old male with postinjury neuropathic pain comorbid with major depression in which electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was effective in relieving both neuropathic pain and major depression. A total of 12 sessions of bilateral ECT were performed using a Thymatron® (Somatics LLC; Lake Bluff, IL). After ECT, the patient was subsequently maintained on paroxetine, eszopiclone (2 mg/day), and alprazolam. There was no relapse for at least one year after the last ECT. This case indicates that ECT might be an alternative treatment for major depression associated with chronic neuropathic pain after traumatic injury.

The pdf is here.

The table is here:

This is a well-presented, straightforward case presentation of successful ECT for post-traumatic neuropathic pain and co-morbid depression. It adds to the small, but intriguing literature for this secondary indication for ECT. Of note is the durability of improvement in this case, without maintenance ECT, and the increase in muscle strength.

The references do not include the several encouraging reports of ECT's benefit for complex regional pain syndrome (previously referred to as reflex sympathetic dystrophy).