Consumers' views of electroconvulsive therapy: A qualitative analysis

Abstract

Background: ECT is not a rare treatment in the UK today but little research has been conducted into users' views of their experiences. Most of what exists is quantitative in nature.

Aims: To investigate consumers' views on the benefits and risks of ECT and to understand the controversy that exists between some users and their organizations and professional bodies.

Method: Qualitative data was gathered from the internet, a video archive and consumer publications. This data is referred to as “testimonies”. These testimonies were subject to a qualitative analysis using content analysis and a simple form of grounded theory.

Results: Twice as many testimonies were very negative about ECT as were very positive. Testimonies revealed themes regarding the experience of receiving ECT which are never elicited by standard “attitude” questionnaires. The main side-effect of ECT apparent in the data was persistent memory loss.

Conclusion: Qualitative analysis reveals that consumers' views about health interventions such as ECT are complex and multi-faceted. Further research should seek to use qualitative methods with prospective or random samples as well as relying on theoretical sampling from sources such as the internet.

Declaration of interest: The work reported here was funded by a grant from the Department of Health. However the arguments contained herein are the authors' own.

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
• consumers'
• views
• perceived benefit
• memory loss
• controversy