Patients’, Carers’, and the Public’s Perspectives on Electroconvulsive Therapy

Griffiths, Chris; O’Neill-Kerr, Alex

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00304

Cited by 38 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…This objectivity derives from clinical considerations which give indications and contraindications and the benefits and risks of the therapy. The prejudice is essentially at an emotional level, and derives from ideological paradigms, often fed by fictitious arguments fuelled by mass media 25…”

Section: Consent To Medical Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Delusional’ consent in somatic treatment: the emblematic case of electroconvulsive therapy

Bersani

Pacitti

Iannitelli³

2020

J Med Ethics

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Even more than for other treatments, great importance must be given to informed consent in the case of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In a percentage of cases, the symbolic connotation of the treatment, even if mostly and intrinsically negative, may actually be a determining factor in the patient’s motives for giving consent. On an ethical and medicolegal level, the most critical point is that concerning consent to the treatment by a psychotic subject with a severely compromised ability to comprehend the nature and objective of the proposed therapy, but who nonetheless expresses his consent, for reasons derived from delusional thoughts. In fact, this situation necessarily brings to light the contradiction between an explicit expression of consent, a necessary formality for the commencement of therapy, and the validity of this consent, which may be severely compromised due to the patient’s inability to comprehend reality and therefore to accept the proposal of treatment, which is intrinsic to this reality. With the use of an electric current, the symbolic experience associated with anaesthesia, and the connection to convulsions, ECT enters the collective consciousness. In relation to this, ECT is symbolic of these three factors and hooks on to the thoughts, fears, feelings and expectations of delusional patients. These are often exemplified in the violent intervention of the persecutor in the patient with schizophrenia, the expected punishment for the ’error’ committed for which the depressed patient blames himself and the social repression of the maniacal patient’s affirmation of his inflated self-esteem.

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Section: Consent To Medical Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Delusional’ consent in somatic treatment: the emblematic case of electroconvulsive therapy

Bersani

Pacitti

Iannitelli³

2020

J Med Ethics

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“…Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a mental health treatment involving the use of electric currents to induce a seizure, 1 and is used to treat life-threatening depression, catatonia and severe, long-lasting mania that is resistant to medication. 1,2 However, ECT raises fear among the general public, [3][4][5] largely because of its dramatization in the mainstream media. 2,[5][6][7][8] Concerns are, however, not entirely based on fiction, as some patients have reported adverse psychological sideeffects as a result of ECT treatment, implying possible signs of trauma response.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1,2 However, ECT raises fear among the general public, [3][4][5] largely because of its dramatization in the mainstream media. 2,[5][6][7][8] Concerns are, however, not entirely based on fiction, as some patients have reported adverse psychological sideeffects as a result of ECT treatment, implying possible signs of trauma response. 9 The National Health Service (NHS) information for patients undergoing ECT consists of a science-based leaflet from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 1 despite research suggesting that healthcare education may be better received alongside contextual and emotive evidence.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving attitudes toward electroconvulsive therapy

2021

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Aims and method Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) often causes fear in the general public because of media representation and negative reported side-effects. This study evaluates a new video focusing on experiences of ECT and how this can aid communicating medical information to the public. Knowledge and attitudes toward ECT after watching the video were compared with a group that received no information and a group that read the current NHS leaflet on ECT. The role of empathy was also considered as a covariate. Results The video was the only condition found to positively affect knowledge and attitudes toward ECT. The video was especially beneficial to those that possessed low perspective-taking trait empathy. Clinical implications These findings demonstrate the video improved knowledge and attitudes toward ECT compared with current material or no information. We suggest that the addition of personal experiences to public information adds perspective, improving overall attitudes toward health treatments.

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“…Treatment must be considered adequate, but considerable variation exists for how to define adequate (13). ECT can be an effective treatment for treatment-resistant depression but is often considered only as a last resort due to fear of side effects and stigma (14). Hence, there is space for an intervention such as TMS before ECT is considered.…”

Section: What Is Depression and How Do We Treat It Now?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Crossing Death Valley: Bringing Neurotechnology to Psychiatric Clinics in Alberta, Canada

et al. 2020

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Depression is a major public health problem, with a lifetime and 12-month prevalence estimated at 18 and 6% of adults. Depression is costly in terms of treatment and lost productivity and is the main burden of mental illness across the globe. Existing pharmacological and psychological treatments for depression result in clinically meaningful improvements in <60% of patients. An emerging treatment approach is non-invasive brain stimulation of depression-related brain targets through transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). In this perspective, we detail our efforts on bringing TMS to clinical populations in Alberta by utilizing a novel organizational structure that bridges the gap between academia and the health care system. The Addictions and Mental Health Strategic Clinical Network worked with stakeholders to (1) examine the evidence, (2) develop clinical tools for patient selection and protocol application, (3) create overall implementation and evaluation plans to aid in further scale and spread, and even (4) fund the purchase and deployment of devices. Through this work, five publicly supported clinics now exist in Alberta.

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Patients’, Carers’, and the Public’s Perspectives on Electroconvulsive Therapy

Cited by 38 publications

References 34 publications

‘Delusional’ consent in somatic treatment: the emblematic case of electroconvulsive therapy

‘Delusional’ consent in somatic treatment: the emblematic case of electroconvulsive therapy

Improving attitudes toward electroconvulsive therapy

Crossing Death Valley: Bringing Neurotechnology to Psychiatric Clinics in Alberta, Canada

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