An audit of seizure duration in electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract

Aims and method: Brief or missed seizures might indicate that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is not being delivered effectively. This cycle of audit at an ECT clinic aimed to measure rates of brief or missed seizures in two study periods, before and after the acquisition of a more powerful ECT machine. Results: There was a significant reduction in the rate of brief or missed seizures in audit two. There was a significant increase in the restimulation rate in audit two, but without the desired effect of inducing adequate seizures. Clinical implications: Ineffective delivery of ECT might result in poor response to the treatment and should be minimised. Certain aspects of ECT delivery improved in the clinic studied but some patients received an ineffective second dose of electrical charge.