ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture for treatment of catatonic schizophrenia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with electroacupuncture, Baihui (GV 20) and Taiyang (EXHN 5) were selected, once daily; the control group was treated with modified electric convulsive therapy (MECT), the treatment was given once every 2 days or 3 days, 14 to 21 days constituted one course in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The markedly effective rate and total effective rate were 72.5% and 92.5% in the observation group, 77.5% and 97.5% in the control group, respectively, there was no significant difference between the two groups (both P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture is similar to that of MECT.</p>