Satisfaction and attitude of bipolar patients regarding electroconvulsive therapy: modified or unmodified

Abstract

Objective: Ministry of Health of Turkey issued a legislation to use only modified electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in 2005, and this study aimed to assess satisfaction and attitude of bipolar patients regarding modified and unmodified electroconvulsive therapy.

Methods: A total of 100 patients (50 treated with modified electroconvulsive therapy (M-ECT) and 50 treated with unmodified ECT (UM-ECT) with a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder (depressive or manic episode) were invited to participate in this study. Patients with euthymic mood were included. Satisfaction and attitude towards ECT were evaluated with a structured attitude questionnaire, and M-ECT and UM-ECT patients, and their subgroups (depressive vs. manic) were compared.

Results: No significant differences were found between M-ECT and UM-ECT groups regarding age, sex, marital status and occupation. The majority of all patients (78%) were satisfied from treatment with ECT and with the outcome (88%), without significant differences between modified and unmodified groups. Forgetfulness (70%) and headaches (57%) occurred in all groups, with the only significant difference in forgetfulness being reported by more manic patients treated with UM-ECT. Depressive and manic patients treated with UM-ECT reported concerns of brain damage and physical harm significantly more frequently. While 86% of patients treated with M-ECT consented to a future treatment, this was significantly less in patients treated with UM-ECT (50%).

Conclusions: Bipolar patients report a high degree of satisfaction treated either with modified or unmodified ECT but there was a significant difference in perception of adverse effects and willingness for receiving ECT in future.

Keywords:

• Electroconvulsive therapy
• satisfaction
• Bipolar Disorder

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the patients who participated in his study. The authors also thank Dilek Tunali, MD for her contribution to English translation of the questionnaire and reviewing the text with a critical eye.

Disclosure statement

The authors do not have any conflicts of interest or financial disclosures to declare.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Özge Canbek Atay

Ozge Canbek Atay, MD. Coordinator of Bakirkoy ECT Center. Graduated from Istanbul University Medical School and completed her psychiatry residency at Istanbul University Medical School. Between 1994-2009, she worked at Forensic Psychiatry Department and between 2006-2009 she also participated as a coordinator in transition of electroconvulsive therapy from modified to unmodified in Bakirkoy Teaching Hospital.

Sevda Bag

Sevda Bag, MD. Graduated from Istanbul University Medical School and completed her psychiatry residency at Bakirkoy Teaching Hospital. She is currently working at Istanbul Education and Research Hospital, Psychiatry Department.

Haluk Usta

Haluk Usta, MD. He completed his psychiatry residency at Erenkoy Teaching Hospital for Psychiatry and Neurology. He is currently working at Erenkoy Teaching Hospital for Psychiatry and Neurology.

Esin Çetinkaya

Esin Cetinkaya, MD. Graduated from Hacettepe University Medical School, resident and doctoral student between 2011-2016 in Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical School, Public Health and Biostatistics. She is currently psychiatry resident in Bakirkoy Teaching Hospital.

Medaim Yanik

Medaim Yanik, MD, Prof. Graduated from Istanbul University Medical School and completed his psychiatry residency at Cerrahpasa Medical School. Between 2005-2009, Chief clinician at Bakirkoy Teaching Hospital and participated in the transition of electroconvulsive therapy from unmodified to modified. He is currently a lecturer at the Department of Psychology at Ibn Khaldun University.