BMJ  2003;326:1363 (21 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7403.1363

Paper

Patients' perspectives on electroconvulsive therapy: systematic review

Diana Rose, senior researcher1, Pete Fleischmann, researcher1, Til Wykes, professor2, Morven Leese, statistician3, Jonathan Bindman, senior lecturer3

1 Service User Research Enterprise, PO34, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, 2 Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, 3 Health Services Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry

Correspondence to: D Rose d.rose{at}iop.kcl.ac.uk

Objective To ascertain patients' views on the benefits of and possible memory loss from electroconvulsive therapy.

Design Descriptive systematic review.

Data sources Psychinfo, Medline, Web of Science, and Social Science Citation Index databases, and bibliographies.

Study selection Articles with patients' views after treatment with electroconvulsive therapy.

Data extraction 26 studies carried out by clinicians and nine reports of work undertaken by patients or with the collaboration of patients were identified; 16 studies investigated the perceived benefit of electroconvulsive therapy and seven met criteria for investigating memory loss.

Data synthesis The studies showed heterogeneity. The methods used were associated with levels of perceived benefit. At least one third of patients reported persistent memory loss.

Conclusions The current statement for patients from the Royal College of Psychiatrists that over 80% of patients are satisfied with electroconvulsive therapy and that memory loss is not clinically important is unfounded.


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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Additional intellectual prolonged losses after ECT
Judith Ronat
bmj.com, 20 Jun 2003 [Full text]
What would high quality collaborative research on ECT deficits look like?
Linda Andre, et al.
bmj.com, 25 Jun 2003 [Full text]
Problems with this review
Chester A Pearlman
bmj.com, 23 Jun 2003 [Full text]
Valuing memory loss
Keriata Stuart
bmj.com, 23 Jun 2003 [Full text]
Does underlying depression, or ECT itself, cause amnesia after ECT?
Jeremy Seymour
bmj.com, 23 Jun 2003 [Full text]
Re: Valuing memory loss
Chester A Pearlman
bmj.com, 24 Jun 2003 [Full text]
Re: Does underlying depression, or ECT itself, cause amnesia after ECT?
Linda Andre, et al.
bmj.com, 24 Jun 2003 [Full text]
Still arguing....
Sue Kemsley
bmj.com, 24 Jun 2003 [Full text]
How many times do they have to say it?
susanne stevens, et al.
bmj.com, 25 Jun 2003 [Full text]
Nothing New Here
anthony t frais
bmj.com, 28 Jun 2003 [Full text]
Re: How many times do they have to say it?
William Plummer
bmj.com, 2 Jul 2003 [Full text]
Re: Re: How many times do they have to say it?
Linda Andre, et al.
bmj.com, 3 Jul 2003 [Full text]
Re: Re: Does underlying depression, or ECT itself, cause amnesia after ECT?
Janice Campbell
bmj.com, 4 Jul 2003 [Full text]
Re: Re: How many times do they have to say it?
Sue Kemsley
bmj.com, 5 Jul 2003 [Full text]
Allowances for clustering.
William Plummer
bmj.com, 6 Jul 2003 [Full text]
Electronconvulsive therapy causes memory loss, say patients
Campbell McInroy
bmj.com, 21 Jul 2003 [Full text]
Editor's reply
Richard Smith
bmj.com, 21 Jul 2003 [Full text]
ECT works for acute depression as it makes you lose your recent memory.
Yasuo Ishida, et al.
bmj.com, 18 Aug 2003 [Full text]
Re: Additional intellectual prolonged losses after ECT
Sissy Perry
bmj.com, 24 Sep 2003 [Full text]
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