How ECT is used in the treatment of schizophrenia.

      For school I'm doing a report on the treatments of schizophrenia, and in a lot of articles and books it mentions ECT. The only problem is that none explain what it does to schizophrenia or how it helps. I was hoping you could tell me how it helps schizophrenics.
  Thank you for your time,
  Katie Hall

[HFHS.MD-AJ]

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Dear Katie,
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is one of the safest, most effective, and least understood treatment modalities for psychiatric disorders such as major depression, mania, and schizophrenia. However ECT is not a first line treatment for schizophrenia, except in those presenting with severe catatonia.
You may wish to refer to : Kaplan HI, Sadock **: Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry: Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry, 8th Ed. Williams & Wilkins, Marland, 1998.
I hope you find this information helpful.
*Keywords: ECT, schizophrenia, catatonia