Medical Students and Electroconvulsive Therapy: Their Knowledge and Attitudes

Two consecutive cohorts of medical students who received their fourth year psychiatry training at Manchester University completed knowledge and attitude questionnaires on ECT at the start and conclusion of their clerkships. Their understanding and knowledge of ECT was shown to be greater at the end of the clerkship and their attitudes towards treatment were more positive. The second cohort received an extra teaching session on ECT but this did not confer any additional benefit. It is concluded that increased contact with and knowledge about the treatment has a positive effect on medical students' attitudes. There is still room to improve teaching about ECT.