Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T19:03:48.606Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Barriers to the use of electroconvulsive therapy in the elderly: a European survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

M. Philpot ,
A. Treloar ,
N. Gormley  and
L. Gustafson
M. Philpot*
Affiliation:
South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
A. Treloar
Affiliation:
Oxleas NHS Trust, Kent, UK
N. Gormley
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
L. Gustafson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychogeriatrics, Lund University Hospital, Sweden
*
*Correspondence and reprints: Mental Health for Older Adults, Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AZ, UK. E-mail address: [email protected] (M. Philpot).
Get access

Summary

A postal survey was carried out to determine the clinical and legal guidelines governing the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the countries of the wider Europe. Respondents from 23 of the 33 countries returned completed questionnaires. Considerable variation was found in the availability of ECT, the frequency of its use and associated legal procedures. However, there was a broad consensus with regard to the clinical indications. Access to the treatment was most frequently limited by financial or other resource constraints, political or legal restrictions.

Keywords

agedelectroconvulsive therapyEuropesurvey
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 17 , Issue 1 , March 2002 , pp. 41 - 45
Copyright
Copyright © Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS. 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abrams, RElectroconvulsive therapy. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford University Press 1997.Google Scholar
Baudis, PElectroconvulsive therapy in the Czech Republic 1981–1989 (in Czech). Cesk. Psychiatr 1992; 88; 41–7.Google Scholar
Benbow, SMOld age psychiatrists’ views on the use of ECT. Int J Geriat Psychiatry 1991; 6; 317–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benbow, SMThe use of electroconvulsive therapy in old age psychiatry. Int J Geriat Psychiatry 1987; 2; 25–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bernado, MArrufat, FPintor, LCatarineu, SBuisan, EBallus, CPatterns of the use of electroconvulsive therapy in Barcelona (in Spanish). Med Clin (Barc) 1993; 106; 201–4.Google Scholar
Bourne, HElectroconvulsive therapy ending where it began. Psychiatr Bull 1999; 23 : 505.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Breggin, PToxic psychiatry. New York: St. Martin’s Press; 1991Google Scholar
Copeland, MBeekman, ATFDewey, MEHooijer, CJordan, ALawlor, BAet.al. Depression in Europe. Geographical distribution among older people. Br J Psychiatry 1999; 174; 312–21.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duffet, RSiegert, DRLelliott, PElectroconvulsive therapy in Wales. Psychiatr Bull 1999; 23; 597–601.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fink, MECT in Italy. Convuls Ther 1995; 11; 148–51.Google Scholar
Fink, MECT in the Netherlands. Convuls Ther 1995; 11; 224–5.Google Scholar
Glen, IScott, ARates of electroconvulsive therapy use in Edinburgh (1992–1997). J Affect Disord 1999; 54; 81–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hermann, RCDorwart, RAHoover, CWBrody, JVariation in ECT use in the United States. Am J Psychiatry 1995; 152; 869–75.Google ScholarPubMed
Hermann, RCEttner, SLDorwart, RAHoover, CWYeung, ECharacteristics of psychiatrists who perform ECT. Am J Psychiatry 1998; 155; 889–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Isometsa, ETHenriksson, MMHeikkinen, MELonnqvist, JKCompleted suicide and recent electroconvulsive therapy in Finland. Convuls Ther 1996; 12; 152–5.Google ScholarPubMed
Kornhuber, JWeller, MPatient selection and remission rates with the current practice of electroconvulsive therapy in Germany. Convuls Ther 1995; 11; 104–9.Google ScholarPubMed
Latey, RHFahy, TJSome influences on regional variation in frequency of prescription of electroconvulsive therapy. Br J Psychiatry 1988; 152; 196–200.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mittman, NHerrman, NEinarson, TRBusto, UELanctot, KLLiu, BAet.al. The efficacy, safety and tolerability of antidepressants in late life depression: a meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 1997; 46; 191–217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muller, UKlimke, AJanner, MGaebel, WElectroconvulsive therapy in psychiatric clinics in Germany in 1995 (in German). Nervenarzt 1998; 69; 15–26.Google Scholar
Olfson, MMarcus, SSackeim, HAThompson, JPincus, HAUse of ECT for the inpatient treatment of recurrent major depression. Am J Psychiatry 1998; 155; 22–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Philpot, M25th symposium of the European Association of Geriatric Psychiatry, Jerusalem, August 19, 1997. Int J Geriat Psychiatry 1998; 13; 186–7.3.0.CO;2-U>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rottgers, HRLepping, PTreatment of the mentally ill in the Federal Republic of Germany. Psychiatr Bull 1999; 23; 601–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stromgren, LSElectroconvulsive therapy in the Nordic countries, 1977–1987. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1991; 84; 428–34.Google ScholarPubMed
Thompson, JWWeiner, RDMyers, CPUse of ECT in the United States in 1975, 1980 and 1986. Am J Psychiatry 1994; 151; 1657–61.Google ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.