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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
Published on: April 11, 2019
Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in autistic catatonia: a case series review
Lee E Wachtel1, Adriana Hermida, Dirk M Dhossche
1Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States. wachtel@kennedykrieger.org
Abstract:
The usage of electroconvulsive therapy for the acute resolution of catatonia in autistic children and adults is a novel area that has received increased attention over the past few years. Reported length of the acute ECT course varies among these patients, and there is no current literature on maintenance ECT in autism. The maintenance ECT courses of three patients with autism who developed catatonia are presented. Clinical, research, legal, and administrative implications for ECT treatment in this special population are discussed.
