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Lee Wachtel, James Luccarelli, John Michael Falligant, Joshua Ryan Smith
(2025).
Electroconvulsive therapy in autism spectrum disorders: an update to the literature.
Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 38(2), 79-86.
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health).
- Publication date
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20 Dec 2024
- Identifier
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10.1097/yco.0000000000000985
- Authors
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Lee Wachtel,
James Luccarelli,
John Michael Falligant,
Joshua Ryan Smith
- Source
- Current Opinion in Psychiatry
- Details
- 38(2), 79-86
- Reference type
- article
- Publisher
- Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
- Metadata source
- crossref
Abstract
Purpose of review Over the last quarter century, the clinical evidence surrounding the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has expanded. This review provides the most up-to-date findings on the usage of ECT in ASD and discusses these results within the historical context and direct patient care experience. Recent findings ECT is typically implemented for psychotropic-refractory catatonic, affective, psychotic, and combined pathology for individuals across the lifespan. Although highly stigmatized, ECT is well tolerated, efficacious, and potentially lifesaving for select individuals. A case presentation of an individual with autism as well as a summary of legal restrictions hampering his ECT access is presented. Summary ECT is increasingly used in individuals with ASD who present with a wide range of ECT-responsive psychopathology, as well as repetitive self-injury and late, autistic-like regression for which no cause is found. ECT is well tolerated and offers real hope for many ASD individuals with devastating, treatment-refractory conditions.
Study authors in this cited reference