Electroconvulsive Therapy for Pediatric Population

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is regarded as one of the most effective treatment options for various psychiatric disorders. However, its use in the pediatric population has been substantially less and remains a topic of ongoing research and debate. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on the application of ECT in children and adolescents.

The use of ECT in pediatric population is predominantly limited to severe and treatment-resistant psychiatric and neurological conditions including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, suicidal and self-harming behavior, catatonia, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. It improves clinical symptomatology and quality of life even in a high proportion of treatment-resistant and refractory cases. The response rates are high in mood disorders and catatonia, and moderate in psychosis and schizophrenia. The common adverse effects include memory disturbances, headache, confusion, and nausea. These are usually transient and self-limiting. Memory impairments typically resolve without any deficits. There is a huge variation in ECT use among the pediatric population worldwide.

The limited evidence suggests that ECT is a promising treatment modality for severe psychiatric conditions when other interventions prove ineffective or unsafe. There is a need for a balanced approach that carefully weighs the potential benefits against the risks and ethical concerns when considering ECT as a treatment modality for children and adolescents with severe mental health conditions.