Abstract

Aims and MethodA questionnaire was distributed to consultants with a special interest in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at clinics participating in an ECT accreditation process. This aimed to ascertain a consensus of clinical practice regarding informing patients about the treatment and assessment of memory during ECT.ResultsThe response rate was 64%. There is consensus on informing patients about the possibility of permanent memory loss. Memory is assessed before and during an ECT course by clinical interview and Mini-Mental State Examination, but rarely at long-term follow-up.Clinical ImplicationsPatients need to be informed about the possibility of permanent memory loss before consenting to ECT. Clinical teams need to make greater efforts to assess memory, particularly after this treatment.

Highlights

  • Patients need to be informed about the possibility of permanent memory loss before consenting to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

  • Do you discuss the possibility of memory loss with patients who you refer for ECT?

  • We have shown that there is a consensus of clinical practice to inform patients that ECT may cause permanent memory loss and retrograde amnesia for events just before the procedure

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Summary

Methods

The ECTAS was established in 2003 to improve the quality of ECT provision in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland. At the time of this study (in 2007) ECTAS had recruited 87 member clinics out of an estimated 149 clinics.[10] One feature of signing up to the accreditation process is access to an email discussion forum. This forum was used for the purpose of recruitment in this study. A questionnaire, consisting of 13 questions relating to issues about memory and ECT, was emailed to 108 practising UK psychiatrists identified from the discussion forum. A written version of the questionnaire was sent by post 3^5 months later

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Discussion
Conclusion

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