title: Patients' perspectives on electroconvulsive therapy: systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain patients' views on the benefits of and possible memory loss from electroconvulsive therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive systematic review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psychinfo, Medline, Web of Science, and Social Science Citation Index databases, and bibliographies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles with patients' views after treatment with electroconvulsive therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  26 studies carried out by clinicians and nine reports of work undertaken by patients or with the collaboration of patients were identified; 16 studies investigated the perceived benefit of electroconvulsive therapy and seven met criteria for investigating memory loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The studies showed heterogeneity. The methods used were associated with levels of perceived benefit. At least one third of patients reported persistent memory loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current statement for patients from the Royal College of Psychiatrists that over 80% of patients are satisfied with electroconvulsive therapy and that memory loss is not clinically important is unfounded.
authors.affiliation: Service User Research Enterprise, PO34, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF. d.rose@iop.kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Pete
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fleischmann
authors.forename: Til
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wykes
authors.forename: Morven
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leese
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bindman
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction