Factors Associated With Utilization of Electroconvulsive Therapy During Psychiatric Hospitalization Among Children...

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Psychiatric Treatments
• Healthcare Utilization

Background:

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment option for severe psychiatric conditions.
• Understanding ECT utilization patterns in child and adolescent populations is crucial for optimizing care.
• Limited data exists on ECT use among pediatric psychiatric patients in China.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the demographic and clinical factors associated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) utilization.
• To determine the frequency of ECT use in child and adolescent (C/A) patients during psychiatric hospitalization in China.
• To identify correlates of ECT use in a nationally representative sample of C/A psychiatric patients.

Main Methods:

• A national survey of 41 provincial tertiary psychiatric hospitals in China.
• Analysis of data from 196 C/A patients discharged between March 19-31, 2019.
• Retrospective review of patient records to identify ECT utilization and associated factors.

Main Results:

• The overall rate of ECT use among C/A patients was 15.6% (n=30).
• Significant differences between ECT and non-ECT groups included sex, age, length of stay, Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), treatment outcome, and self-injurious behavior.
• Logistic regression indicated ECT use was associated with older age, male sex, lower GAF at admission, and self-injurious behavior.

Conclusions:

• ECT utilization is relatively frequent among C/A patients during psychiatric hospitalization in China.
• There is a need for specific, operational criteria to guide optimal ECT use in C/A populations.
• Further research should focus on developing evidence-based guidelines for ECT in pediatric psychiatric care.