Peer-reviewed article
Electroconvulsive therapy in children and adolescents: a case report
Mallol Castaño L, Del Sol Calderón P, Paricio Del Castillo R ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This is a clinical case report describing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment for a 15-year-old boy with psychotic disorder who had not responded to antipsychotic medications. The case documents improvements in psychotic symptoms following ECT treatment. The report argues that ECT is underutilised in adolescents despite evidence of effectiveness.
Key points
- The patient was a 15-year-old male with psychotic disorder resistant to multiple antipsychotics including clozapine
- ECT resulted in improvement in both positive and negative psychotic symptoms
- Specific improvements included decreased soliloquies and improvement in affective flattening
- The authors argue ECT is underutilised in children and adolescents despite recent supportive evidence
- This is a single case report, not a systematic evaluation of the intervention
Limitations
This is a single case report describing one patient's experience, providing no comparison group, control condition, or data on generalisation to other adolescents with psychotic disorders. It cannot establish the safety, efficacy, or appropriate indications for ECT across the child and adolescent population.
Abstract
Introduction Electroconvulsive therapy is a proven treatment for mood and psychotic disorders in adult patients. It is estimated that in children and adolescents this type of therapy is underutilised despite the fact that the most recent studies have supported the success of ECT in these patients. A case is described of a 15-year-old male patient diagnosed with psychotic disorder who was previously treated with several antipsychotics, including clozapine, and finally treated with electroconvulsive therapy. Objectives Review of the clinical indications of electroconvulsive therapy in children and adolescents with psychotic or mood disorders through a clinical case of a patient admitted to a Psychiatric Short Stay Unit Methods Detailed psychopathological description of the case as well as the treatments used (psychotropic drugs and electroconvulsive therapy). Results After the administration of electroconvulsive therapy, an improvement in both positive and negative psychotic symptomatology was observed, with a decrease in soliloquies and an improvement in affective flattening. Conclusions Electroconvulsive therapy is an effective treatment in adolescent patients with psychotic and mood disorders, which should be considered as indicated as an effective treatment. Disclosure No significant relationships.