Electroconvulsive Therapy in a Sample British Population in 1982

This study into the practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) within a sample British population of three million found that although the use of ECT had declined by half in the past decade, it was still prescribed frequently. Closer scrutiny of a subsample of 390,000 found it to be applied mainly to the treatment of major depressive illness in elderly women. The referring clinicians demonstrated a preference for bilateral electrode placement, with treatment being administered thrice weekly. It was common practice to prescribe concurrent psychoactive medication. The clinicians predicted favourable initial outcomes with 90% accuracy whatever the presenting diagnosis or symptoms. High overall mortality and morbidity of the depressed patients was noted. Almost all (93%) of the treatment courses were administered to informal patients.