In this episode we revisit the topic of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for autism, exploring a new study out of Vanderbilt Medical Center finding resoundingly positive results, and few side effects of the therapy. Our guest is lead author Joshua Smith, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. We discuss not just the findings of the study, in which 30 of 32 patients experienced marked improvement, but also the problems of access to treatment and the lingering and unnecessary stigma around ECT.

The study: Use of ECT in Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Intellectual Disability: A Single Site Retrospective Analysis