AUTHOR=Griffiths Chris , O’Neill-Kerr Alex 

TITLE=Patients’, Carers’, and the Public’s Perspectives on Electroconvulsive Therapy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00304

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00304

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Aims and Method:</bold> The aim of this study was to present patients’, carers’, and the public’s perspectives on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) through a narrative review of the literature.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> People’s perspectives on ECT are often negative due to media and Internet portrayal. Perspectives are influenced by risks, short-term side effects, and the most commonly reported longer-term side effect: memory loss. However, many patients do not report memory loss. Most people who experience ECT and their carers report a positive perspective. In the future, people’s perspectives may become more positive with higher service delivery standards and a more balanced, well-informed view of modern ECT presented by the media. However, ECT has risks and side effects, and negative and critical perspectives on the use and effects of ECT will persist.</p><p><bold>Clinical Implications:</bold> Perspectives on ECT are important because of the impact on stigma, patient treatment choice, patient consent, and provision of and referral for ECT.</p>