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. 1981 Apr;74(4):283-5.
doi: 10.1177/014107688107400409.

Are patients shocked by ECT?

J Hughes, B M Barraclough, W Reeve

Are patients shocked by ECT?

J Hughes et al. J R Soc Med. 1981 Apr.

Abstract

Seventy-two consecutive patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for severe mental illness were asked their opinions about ECT: 83% considered they had improved as a result of the treatment and 81% would have it again. Most found the experience neutral or pleasant and 54% thought the dentist more distressing. Claims in newspapers, magazines, television and elsewhere that ECT is cruel and frightening receive little support from the results of this study.

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