Change in Attitude Toward Electroconvulsive Therapy: Effects of Treatment, Time Since Treatment, and Severity of Depression.
Attitudes toward electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) of patients with major depressive episodes who are treated with ECT were evaluated before the beginning of treatment, 1 to 2 days after completion of the 12th treatment, and 6 months after the termination of the series using a questionnaire (adapted from Freeman and Kendall, 1980). Attitudes toward ECT become more positive after treatment, and remain so at the 6-month follow-up. Attitude changes correlate with changes in depressive symptoms and with subjective side effects during treatment. Patients who had a prior course of ECT had more knowledge of ECT but not a more positive attitude.
Calev
Avraham
A
Department of Research, Herzog Memorial Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel, and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, USA.
Kochav-Lev
Elena
E
Tubi
Nurith
N
Nigal
Doron
D
Chazan
Shella
S
Shapira
Baruch
B
Lerer
Bernard
B