Electroconvulsive therapy in a rural teaching general hospital in India

This paper analyses the pattern of use of and the response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in an Indian rural teaching general hospital between 1977 and 1980. ECT was used in 503 cases (14.3 per cent of 3,517). Three-quarters of the patients to whom it was given were schizophrenic, one-fifth depressed and 6 per cent suffering from post-partum psychosis. Though the treatment gave the best results in depression it was also effective in many schizophrenics and post-partum psychotics. The commonest side effect was memory impairment. Following unmodified ECT severe confusion and excitement were frequent, while thrombophlebitis, bronchospasm, prolonged apnoea and peripheral circulatory collapse occurred only with the modified technique. The usefulness of ECT in developing countries like India is highlighted.