[Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy for Agitation and Self Injurious Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder]. 2021

Öznur Adıgüzel Akman, and Sibel Kahraman Girgeç, and Samet Çelik, and Vildan Çakır Kardeş, and Nuray Atasoy

Self-injurious behaviors (SIBs) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are destructive symptoms that can lead to dangerous injuries and life-threatening risks. Agitation and SIBs may not respond to psychopharmacological and behavioral interventions. There are reports in the literature on improvement after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in cases not responding pharmacotherapy. However, data on the efficacy of the therapy on the benefiting patients, the course of the treatment and on the use of maintenance ECT (m-ECT) are very limited. This report presents the clinical features and the course of m-ECT on two cases under follow up for pharmacotherapy resistant ASD with significant agitation, mood disorder and SIBs that could cause severe head traumas. The initial stage of therapy consisted of 7 sessions of ECT patients showed improvement after the 5th session. m-ECT were started since the agitation repeated one week after discharge despite ongoing pharmacotherapy. In the first case, m-ECT was continued once every two weeks for a total of 46 sessions; and in the second case a total of 18 weekly sessions were conducted. No significant side effects or complications were observed and the general state of well-being was preserved. Our paper is among the few that reported succesful treatment of agitation with m-ECT. m-ECT should be considered in treatment resistant cases.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004565 Electroconvulsive Therapy Electrically induced CONVULSIONS primarily used in the treatment of severe AFFECTIVE DISORDERS and SCHIZOPHRENIA. Convulsive Therapy, Electric,ECT (Psychotherapy),Electroshock Therapy,Shock Therapy, Electric,Convulsive Therapies, Electric,Electric Convulsive Therapies,Electric Convulsive Therapy,Electric Shock Therapies,Electric Shock Therapy,Electroconvulsive Therapies,Electroshock Therapies,Shock Therapies, Electric,Therapies, Electric Convulsive,Therapies, Electric Shock,Therapies, Electroconvulsive,Therapies, Electroshock,Therapy, Electric Convulsive,Therapy, Electric Shock,Therapy, Electroconvulsive,Therapy, Electroshock
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000067877 Autism Spectrum Disorder Wide continuum of associated cognitive and neurobehavioral disorders, including, but not limited to, three core-defining features: impairments in socialization, impairments in verbal and nonverbal communication, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors. (from DSM-V) Autistic Spectrum Disorder,Autism Spectrum Disorders,Autistic Spectrum Disorders,Disorder, Autistic Spectrum
D016728 Self-Injurious Behavior Behavior in which persons hurt or harm themselves without the motive of suicide or of sexual deviation. Intentional Self Harm,Intentional Self Injury,Self Harm,Self-Destructive Behavior,Deliberate Self-Harm,Non-Suicidal Self Injury,Nonsuicidal Self Injury,Self-Injury,Behavior, Self-Destructive,Behavior, Self-Injurious,Deliberate Self Harm,Harm, Self,Intentional Self Injuries,Non Suicidal Self Injury,Non-Suicidal Self Injuries,Nonsuicidal Self Injuries,Self Destructive Behavior,Self Harm, Intentional,Self Injurious Behavior,Self Injury,Self Injury, Intentional,Self Injury, Non-Suicidal,Self Injury, Nonsuicidal,Self-Destructive Behaviors,Self-Harm, Deliberate,Self-Injurious Behaviors
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes
D019964 Mood Disorders Those disorders that have a disturbance in mood as their predominant feature. Affective Disorders,Affective Disorder,Disorder, Affective,Disorder, Mood,Disorders, Affective,Disorders, Mood,Mood Disorder

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