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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).
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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

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