Don't believe everything you read in the medical literature, particularly when the message is to dismiss  or discredit ECT. 


Successful replacement of electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in severe, treatment-refractory catatonic schizophrenia: Case study.
Wysokiński A.
Schizophr Res. 2020 Apr 2. pii: S0920-9964(20)30171-7. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2020.03.060. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available. 
PMID:
 
32249124
The pdf is here.

 This case report is replete with inaccuracies and unlikely conclusions. To label it "anecdotal" is too kind. While I do not question the good intentions of the author, the unfortunate consequence of such reports may be to promote unsubstantiated treatments for seriously ill patients.

Comments

  1. William V McCallApril 7, 2020 at 2:44 PM

    ECT and benzodiazepines are presently the mainstay treatments for catatonia. In the absence of definitive treatment, catatonia can lead to disastrous consequences such as DVT/PE, decubitus ulcers/sepsis, aspiration pneumonia, etc. For these reasons ECT and/or benzodiazepines remain first line treatments for catatonia, especially catatonic stupor.
    - William V McCall

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