Surreal digital illustration of a brain surrounded by electrical currents, symbolizing hope and recovery through electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Daily ECT for Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia: A Promising Pilot Study

Jordan Keane in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Can intensive, daily electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) offer new hope for patients battling treatment-resistant schizophrenia? A pilot study reveals encouraging results."

Schizophrenia is a chronic and debilitating mental disorder affecting approximately 1% of the population worldwide. Sadly, a significant number of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, around 30%, do not respond to standard antipsychotic treatments. This condition is termed treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), leaving patients with persistent symptoms and a diminished quality of life.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has emerged as a potential treatment option for TRS when medication proves ineffective. While previous studies have explored ECT for TRS, a novel approach involving daily intensive sessions remains largely unexamined. This approach aims to harness the potential benefits of frequent ECT administration.

This article delves into a pilot study that investigated the effectiveness of daily intensive ECT over eight consecutive days in reducing symptoms of schizophrenia among patients with TRS. It also examines the short-term and medium-term effects of this intervention, paving the way for potential advancements in TRS treatment.

Daily ECT: A Ray of Hope for Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia?

Surreal digital illustration of a brain surrounded by electrical currents, symbolizing hope and recovery through electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

The pilot study involved 14 patients diagnosed with TRS based on DSM-5 criteria. Participants underwent daily ECT sessions for eight consecutive days. Psychiatrists assessed the severity of the patients' disease, including positive and negative symptoms, psychopathology, and cognitive functions at baseline, at the end of the intervention, and at 4 and 12 weeks after completion.

The study revealed a promising trend: disease symptoms, including positive and negative symptoms and general psychopathology, reduced significantly from baseline to the end of the intervention and up to 4 weeks after treatment. However, twelve weeks after the intervention, symptoms started to increase again. Cognitive functions experienced a decline from baseline to the end of the study and 4 weeks post-treatment, but they returned to baseline levels by the 12-week mark.

Symptom Reduction: Intensive daily ECT can significantly reduce psychiatric symptoms (positive and negative symptoms, psychopathology) in the short and medium term for individuals with TRS.
Cognitive Impact: While initial cognitive decline is observed, cognitive functions tend to recover to baseline levels over time.
Potential Booster Sessions: The increase in symptoms between 4 and 12 weeks following intervention suggests that booster sessions of ECT could be beneficial in sustaining the improvements.

These findings suggest that an intensive, 8-day daily course of ECT can effectively reduce psychiatric symptoms in TRS patients, offering a potential alternative treatment strategy. The study also highlights the importance of considering booster sessions to prolong the beneficial effects of ECT.

Future Directions and Implications

While these results are encouraging, the study acknowledges the need for further research to solidify these findings. A key limitation of the pilot study is the absence of a control condition, which would help establish a stronger cause-and-effect relationship between daily ECT and symptom reduction.

Future studies should include larger sample sizes and control conditions, such as a sham ECT group or a standard ECT treatment group. Additionally, assessing cognitive performance using more specific and sensitive cognitive tests is warranted.

Despite these limitations, this pilot study provides a promising foundation for exploring intensive ECT regimens as a potential treatment option for individuals with TRS. It also highlights the need for continued research to optimize ECT protocols and identify strategies for sustaining long-term symptom control and improved quality of life for patients.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1159/000494698, Alternate LINK

Title: A Pilot Study On Daily Intensive Ect Over 8 Days Improved Positive And Negative Symptoms And General Psychopathology Of Patients With Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia Up To 4 Weeks After Treatment

Subject: Biological Psychiatry

Journal: Neuropsychobiology

Publisher: S. Karger AG

Authors: Omran Davarinejad, Koorosh Hendesi, Hassan Shahi, Serge Brand, Habibolah Khazaie

Published: 2018-11-21

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS)?

Treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) is defined as schizophrenia that does not respond to standard antipsychotic medications. This means that about 30% of individuals with schizophrenia continue to experience persistent symptoms and a lower quality of life despite conventional treatment approaches. This can lead to significant challenges in managing the condition and improving patient outcomes. Current research aims to expand treatment options beyond standard medication for these individuals.

How was daily intensive electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) implemented in the pilot study for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS)?

The pilot study investigated the impact of daily intensive electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Patients received ECT sessions daily for eight consecutive days, and their symptoms were evaluated at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at 4 and 12 weeks post-treatment. The study focused on assessing changes in both psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functions to determine the effectiveness and duration of the intervention.

What were the main outcomes observed in the pilot study following daily electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for individuals with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS)?

The pilot study showed that daily electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) led to a significant reduction in psychiatric symptoms, including positive and negative symptoms and general psychopathology, in the short and medium term for individuals with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). While there was an initial cognitive decline observed, cognitive functions tended to recover to baseline levels by the 12-week mark. The findings suggest that intensive daily ECT can be an effective alternative treatment strategy for TRS.

How long did the benefits of daily electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) last for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) in the pilot study?

After daily electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) experienced a significant reduction in symptoms up to 4 weeks post-treatment. However, by the 12-week mark, symptoms began to increase again. This suggests that the beneficial effects of daily ECT may not be sustained long-term without additional interventions, such as booster sessions, to prolong symptom control. Understanding the duration of these effects is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies.

Why might booster sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) be important for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS)?

Based on the pilot study, incorporating booster sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may help sustain the improvements observed with the initial daily ECT intervention for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). The increase in symptoms between 4 and 12 weeks post-intervention suggests that periodic booster sessions could prolong the beneficial effects of ECT, potentially leading to better long-term outcomes for patients with TRS. Further research is needed to determine the optimal timing and frequency of these booster sessions.