ECT use most common in western counties

Under 400 patients received a total of 2,672 treatments of electroconvulsive therapy in hospitals during 2009, figures from Mental Health Commission show

NEW FIGURES show significant variations in the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) across psychiatric hospitals in the State.

Official statistics compiled by the Mental Health Commission show that under 400 patients received a total of 2,672 treatments of ECT in hospitals during 2009.

A total of 40 patients were detained in hospital against their will. The remainder were receiving treatment on a voluntary basis.

ECT involves an electrical current being passed through the brain via electrodes applied to the scalp.

The resulting seizure can have significant beneficial effects, according to consultant psychiatrists. However, many mental health campaigners say the forced use of ECT is a human rights abuse and is the source of long-lasting side effects such as memory loss.

Guidelines on ECT use state that it should only be used when alternative therapies have been considered or proved ineffective.

In general, ECT may only be administered with the patient’s written consent. However, where a patient is unable or unwilling to give consent, ECT must be approved by two consultant psychiatrists.

There are significant regional variations in the administration of the therapy. It was most commonly used in the west – Galway, Mayo and Roscommon – (15 per 100,000 people) and Waterford/Wexford (13 per 100,000).

The lowest rates of use were recorded in Cavan-Monaghan-Louth-Meath (1 per 100,000) and the south Lee-west Cork-Kerry area (0.5 per 100,000). ECT was not administered at all in the north Cork catchment area.

When the figures are broken down by hospital, St Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin reported the highest number of ECT programmes (126), accounting for a third of all programmes of ECT nationally.

This hospital is the largest psychiatric hospital in the State, with more than 2,200 admissions in 2009.

St Brigid’s Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, had the second highest number of programmes (38), which represents 10 per cent of all programmes.

The next highest was the department of psychiatry at Waterford Regional Hospital (26), which accounted for 7 per cent of all programmes.

Most people treated with ECT had presented with depressive disorders, followed by schizophrenia and mania.

The latest data also shows that more women (62 per cent) than men (38 per cent) received ECT against their will.

Just over half (55 per cent) of patients were between 18 and 64 years of age and 45 per cent were 65 years or older, relatively unchanged on 2008.

Records indicate that just under half of all patients showed “significant improvement”, while a quarter had a “complete recovery”.

A minority remainder recorded either moderate or no improvement.

Professional bodies such as the College of Psychiatry say the treatment is an important and potentially life- saving treatment, which has helped many patients recover from mental ill-health.

However, campaign groups representing service users such as Mind Freedom Ireland and Mad Pride say the procedure is overused and want the forced use of ECT to be banned.

The Government had been considering amending the law in this area prior to the general election.