title: Response to Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intractable Challenging Behaviors Associated With Symptoms of Catatonia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are several reports of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) used in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the context of catatonic symptoms. We describe response to ECT in two adults with ASD and intellectual disability with intractable aggression and self-injurious behaviors associated with catatonic symptoms who had not responded to standard interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unilateral ECT at a frequency of 3 times a week was given followed by weekly maintenance ECT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients' catatonic symptoms included episodes of agitation and echophenomena. Electroconvulsive therapy resulted in significant improvement in their behavior problems but 1 patient relapsed when the ECT was discontinued or frequency of treatment reduced. The second patient required 2 courses of ECT before improvement which was maintained on weekly ECT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electroconvulsive therapy could be a potentially beneficial intervention in patients with ASD and severe challenging behaviors associated with catatonic symptoms including agitated or excited forms of catatonia.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of General Psychiatry Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Sreedharan Geetha
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Sajith
authors.forename: Siew Fai
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Liew
authors.forename: Phern Chern
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Tor
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002389:Catatonia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation; D012008:Recurrence; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult