Electroconvulsive therapy and women: An international survey

Abstract

858 electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) recipients, from 44 countries, responded to an online survey. In keeping with previous studies, the majority (73%) were women. Most of the psychiatrists giving ECT (81%) were men. Women patients were less likely than men to report improved mood following ECT. Consistent with previous smaller studies, women patients also reported worse outcomes than men for multiple adverse effects, including anterograde and retrograde memory loss, and for how “harmful” ECT was in general. Even fewer women (15%) than men (29%) said they would want to have ECT again. Implications are discussed.