ECT and Schizophrenia: Can it Help? (Ep. 127)

Today on Schizophrenia: 3 Moms in the Trenches, we’re joined by Dr. Steve Olson—psychiatrist, longtime advocate for clozapine, and a clinician experienced in using Electroconvulsive Therapy when it can truly help. ECT is often misunderstood, especially in the context of schizophrenia, so today we’re digging into what it is, when it works, and what families should know. Dr. Olson helps us separate myth from reality and explore whether ECT has a place in treatment for our loved ones.

Questions for Dr. Olson

Understanding ECT

1. For families who only know ECT from movies, how do you explain what it actually is today?
   
   
   
2. What symptoms or situations in schizophrenia make you consider ECT as an option?
   
   
   

Effectiveness & Use Cases
 3. How effective can ECT be for schizophrenia, and what outcomes have you seen in practice?
 4. Are there particular subtypes or symptom profiles where ECT is most helpful—or least helpful?
 5. How quickly do patients typically respond, compared to medication changes?

Clozapine Context
 6. You’ve been a strong advocate for clozapine. In what scenarios would you consider ECT in addition to clozapine?
7. For someone who hasn’t responded fully even to clozapine, how do you decide whether ECT could help?

Safety, Stigma, and Practicalities
 8. What are the most common fears or misconceptions families have about ECT, and how do you address them?