Patients' perspectives on electroconvulsive therapy: systematic review
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Published on: April 11, 2019
Diana Rose1, Pete Fleischmann, Til Wykes
1Service User Research Enterprise, PO34, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF. d.rose@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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