This week, we’re picking up where we left off last episode in our exploration of ECT by examining how this therapy is administered, which conditions it’s used for, and what we know about why it works. To start off, we take you through the procedure step-by-step, including prep and what someone might experience in the days or weeks that follow. We then examine the situations for which ECT might be recommended as well as the barriers preventing its wider use, which include issues with both access and stigma. How on earth does an electric shock improve symptoms of depression or catatonia? That burning question is one we do our best to answer. To help us present an accurate and comprehensive perspective of this important but underutilized therapy, we bring on an expert. Dr. Leonardo Lopez, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and Vice Chair of Inpatient Services in the Department of Psychiatry, works alongside NewYork-Presbyterian to expand access to ECT across multiple hospitals (check out the Advances in Care podcast episode featuring his work, The Positive Impact of Electroconvulsive Therapy for Severe Psychiatric Illness). Dr. Lopez shares with us a remarkable story of a young girl whose rare condition (anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis) was treated in part with ECT (watch the video of her journey). He also shines a light on the current limitations facing ECT as well as his hopes for the future. Tune in for a truly fascinating episode!

Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/3WwtIAu

<p dir="ltr">This week, we&rsquo;re picking up where we left off last episode in our exploration of ECT by examining how this therapy is administered, which conditions it&rsquo;s used for, and what we know about why it works. To start off, we take you through the procedure step-by-step, including prep and what someone might experience in the days or weeks that follow. We then examine the situations for which ECT might be recommended as well as the barriers preventing its wider use, which include issues with both access and stigma. How on earth does an electric shock improve symptoms of depression or catatonia? That burning question is one we do our best to answer. To help us present an accurate and comprehensive perspective of this important but underutilized therapy, we bring on an expert.&nbsp;<a href="https://weillcornell.org/leonardo-v-lopez-md" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://weillcornell.org/leonardo-v-lopez-md&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787861921408000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2n63v_YrRUTwIub_GJ4ehP">Dr. Leonardo Lopez</a>, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and Vice Chair of Inpatient Services in the Department of Psychiatry, works alongside NewYork-Presbyterian to <a href="https://weillcornell.org/electroconvulsive-therapy-ect" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://weillcornell.org/electroconvulsive-therapy-ect&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787861921408000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2doapKS1jE5_fbmmBV7Gcz">expand access to ECT</a> across multiple hospitals (check out the Advances in Care podcast episode featuring his work, <a href="https://www.nyp.org/advances/podcast/the-positive-impact-of-electroconvulsive-therapy-for-severe-psychiatric-illness" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nyp.org/advances/podcast/the-positive-impact-of-electroconvulsive-therapy-for-severe-psychiatric-illness&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787861921408000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1tvN8FEDDxh_OOFRx0qFv8">The Positive Impact of Electroconvulsive Therapy for Severe Psychiatric Illness</a>). Dr. Lopez shares with us a <a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/156/4/e2024070580/203708/Electroconvulsive-Therapy-for-Catatonia-in-NMDA?redirectedFrom=fulltext" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/156/4/e2024070580/203708/Electroconvulsive-Therapy-for-Catatonia-in-NMDA?redirectedFrom%3Dfulltext&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787861921408000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OxC1-AKZe65IJe7Wd7aZI">remarkable story</a> of a young girl whose rare condition (anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis) was treated in part with ECT (watch the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peuZX4vTohY" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DpeuZX4vTohY&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787861921408000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3quCfpDWx8oGBRriepl8-V">video</a> of her journey). He also shines a light on the current limitations facing ECT as well as his hopes for the future. Tune in for a truly fascinating episode!</p>
<p>Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link:&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/3WwtIAu">https://bit.ly/3WwtIAu</a></p>

This podcast might not actually kill you, but Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke cover so many things that can. In each episode, they tackle a different topic, teaching listeners about the biology, history, and epidemiology of a different disease or medical mystery. They do the scientific research, so you don’t have to.
 
Since 2017, Erin and Erin have explored chronic and infectious diseases, medications, poisons, viruses, bacteria and scientific discoveries. They’ve researched public health subjects including plague, Zika, COVID-19, lupus, asbestos, endometriosis and more.

Each episode is accompanied by a creative quarantini cocktail recipe and a non-alcoholic placeborita.

Erin Welsh, Ph.D. is a co-host of the This Podcast Will Kill You. She is a disease ecologist and epidemiologist and works full-time as a science communicator through her work on the podcast. Erin Allmann Updyke, MD, Ph.D. is a co-host of This Podcast Will Kill You. She’s an epidemiologist and disease ecologist currently in the final stretch of her family medicine residency program.

This Podcast Will Kill You is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including science, true crime, comedic interviews, news, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, Buried Bones, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast and more.

This Podcast Will Kill You

This podcast might not actually kill you, but Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke cover so many things that can. In each episode, they tackle a different topic, teaching listeners about the biology, history, and epidemiology of a different disease or medical mystery. They do the scientific research, so you don’t have to.
 
Since 2017, Erin and Erin have explored chronic and infectious diseases, medications, poisons, viruses, bacteria and scientific discoveries. They’ve researched public health subjects including plague, Zika, COVID-19, lupus, asbestos, endometriosis and more.

Each episode is accompanied by a creative quarantini cocktail recipe and a non-alcoholic placeborita.

Erin Welsh, Ph.D. is a co-host of the This Podcast Will Kill You. She is a disease ecologist and epidemiologist and works full-time as a science communicator through her work on the podcast. Erin Allmann Updyke, MD, Ph.D. is a co-host of This Podcast Will Kill You. She’s an epidemiologist and disease ecologist currently in the final stretch of her family medicine residency program.

This Podcast Will Kill You is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including science, true crime, comedic interviews, news, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, Buried Bones, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast and more.

Ep 221 Electroconvulsive Therapy Part 2: A current conversation

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d5981d2b-6850-4830-bc2a-b4b201569e3e/transcript