Characteristics of electroconvulsive therapy in a university hospital

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate frequency of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) use among hospitalized patients in a psychiatry clinic of university hospital and to determine the diagnostic, socioodemographic features of these ECT treated patients retrospectively. Material and Method: Of 759 inpatients, 32 who was treated with ECT in psychiatry clinic of Ministery of Health-Ordu University Training and Research Hospital were included in the study. The data evaluated in the study were obtained from patient files retrospectively. Results: Among the 32 (4.21%) patients treated with ECT, 23 (71.9%) were male with a mean age of 44.4 and 9 (28.1%) were female with a mean age of 44.5. The mean hospitization time was 28,7 days in male patients whereas it was 38.33 days in female patients. The mean number of ECT sessions was 9.4 for males and 9.8 for females. Conclusion: ECT treatment was performed in 4.24 % of the patients in our clinic for the past 5.5 years. Although the application is restricted because of false beliefs and prejudiced opinions, ECT is a reliable treatment method with very low risk of serious complications. New methods should be implemented for healthy acknowledgment to overcome these opinions and beliefs about ECT.