Value of Electroconvulsive Therapy in the General Public: A Willingness to Pay Study in Germany

The aims of this study were to estimate the value a population-representative sample places on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) through willingness to pay (WTP) and to assess the effects of individual characteristics on WTP for ECT.

A German population-representative sample of 518 was presented with a hypothetical health loss scenario of depression and was asked to indicate WTP for ECT. Probit and quantile regression were used to estimate the effects of individual characteristics on the probability of stating a positive WTP and on the amount of money respondents were willing to pay.

Two thirds of respondents stated that they had no knowledge about ECT. Most (56.5%) respondents indicated zero WTP for health gains through ECT treatment. Mean WTP was €5201 ($5612); median WTP was €1000 ($1079). Respondents' monthly household income had a significant effect on the probability of stating a positive WTP. Assessing WTP above zero, income showed a significant positive effect, whereas a higher score of depressive complaints showed a significant negative effect on the amount respondents were willing to pay.

Knowledge about ECT treatment is particularly low in the German public.