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A questionnaire survey of ECT practice in Australia
1Department of Psychiatry, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand. worch@gmail.com
The Journal of ECT
|June 6, 2007
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is widely used in Australia, primarily for major depression in older adults. All hospitals utilized brief-pulse devices, with no reported ECT-related deaths during the study period.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
- Clinical Practice
Background:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains a vital treatment modality for severe mental health conditions.
- Understanding current ECT practice patterns is crucial for quality assurance and treatment optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the contemporary practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) across Australian hospitals.
- To identify trends in patient demographics, treatment indications, and device usage.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide survey of 136 hospitals in Australia was conducted between October 2002 and February 2004.
- A 29-item questionnaire gathered data on ECT availability, patient numbers, treatment details, and training programs.
- Data were collected from 113 responding hospitals, representing 83% of those surveyed.
Main Results:
- Electroconvulsive therapy was available in 90 hospitals, with 7469 patients receiving 58,499 treatments.
- Major depression accounted for 82.3% of treatments; brief-pulse devices and EEG monitoring were standard.
- The majority of patients were women (63.4%) and over 65 years old (38.4%).
Conclusions:
- Electroconvulsive therapy is a frequently utilized treatment in Australia, predominantly for major depression.
- Modern ECT practice in Australia employs brief-pulse stimulation and routine monitoring, with no reported deaths.
- Opportunities exist to enhance ECT-related training for medical students and psychiatry residents.
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01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...