title: The subjective experience of patients who received electroconvulsive therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the vast amount of scientific literature available on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), there is little qualitative focus upon the patients' subjective experience of this procedure. Using an exploratory descriptive methodology, this study aims to provide a more unique insight into what certain patients actually think of ECT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semistructured interviews were conducted to explore eight patients' opinions and experiences of ECT. Interviews were subjected to analysis by a five-step framework approach that identified prominent themes in relation to five broad questions and in conjunction with issues raised by the subjects themselves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven major themes were identified. Four of these were chosen for discussion, not only as the most prevalent themes (in terms of how frequently they were mentioned by the subjects), but also as the most striking (in regards to the intensity of emotions evoked, or their influence on their perception of ECT as a future treatment option). The four themes are fear of ECT, attribution of cognitive decline and memory loss to ECT, positive ECT experiences, and patients' suggestions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using such a qualitative approach, the depth of the information obtained has revealed new perspectives on how patients perceive the experience of ECT. Fears reported by patients present an opportunity to address specific areas of the procedure that generate the most angst. These were closely associated with recommendations that many patients proposed throughout the interviews. Patients' perceptions of the cognitive effects of ECT do not necessarily correspond with those commonly reported in the literature on ECT. Positive experiences with ECT were more complex than simply its efficacy. There is a need for future research in order to explore and address patients' experiences of ECT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. leslie.koopowitz@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Leslie Frank
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Koopowitz
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chur-Hansen
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blashki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction