Work

Information, consent and perceived coercion: patients' perspectives on electroconvulsive therapy

Year: 2005

Type: review

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure that attracts special safeguards under common law for voluntary patients and under both current and proposed mental health legislation, for those receiving compulsory treatment. AIMS: To review patients' views on issues of information, consent and perceived coercion. METHOD: Seventeen papers and reports were identified that dealt with patients' views on information and consent in relation to ECT; 134 'testimonies' or first-hand accounts were identified. The papers and reports were subjected to a descriptive systematic review. The testimony data were analysed qualitatively. RESULTS: Approximately half the patients reported that they had received sufficient information about ECT and side-effects. Approximately a third did not feel they had freely consented to ECT even when they had signed a consent form. Clinician-led research evaluates these findings to mean that patients trust their doctors, whereas user-led work evaluates similar findings as showing inadequacies in informed consent. CONCLUSION: Neither current nor proposed safeguards for patients are sufficient to ensure informed consent with respect to ECT, at least in England and Wales.

Source: The British Journal of Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1192/bjp.186.1.54

Authors: Dana S. Rose, Til H. Wykes, Jonathan P. Bindman, Pete S. Fleischmann

Institution: King's College London

Language: English

Topic: Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2114874120