Electroconvulsive therapy in older adults: 13-year trends

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment for severe mental health conditions.
• Understanding temporal trends in ECT use is crucial for resource allocation and patient care.
• Older adults represent a significant demographic for mental health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) utilization trends in Ontario from 1992 to 2004.
• To compare ECT use patterns between older and younger adult populations.
• To examine antidepressant prevalence in older adults as a comparative measure.

Main Methods:

• Time-series analysis of linked provincial health datasets.
• Examination of annual trends in ECT prevalence and incidence.
• Stratified analysis by age groups (older vs. younger adults).
• Comparative analysis of antidepressant prevalence in older adults.

Main Results:

• Overall ECT prevalence remained stable, with a slight increase followed by a decrease between 1992 and 2004.
• ECT rates were approximately threefold higher in older adults compared to younger adults.
• Antidepressant prevalence increased by over 90% among older adults during the study period.
• The female-to-male ratio for ECT use was consistent over time.

Conclusions:

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) rates have been relatively stable since the early 1990s.
• Older adults are significantly more likely to receive ECT than younger individuals.
• ECT continues to be a frequently utilized treatment, especially among the elderly population.