title: Patient education by electroconvulsive therapy-experienced volunteer.
abstract: By diminishing the patient's attention, concentration, motivation, and decisiveness, melancholic depression makes the process of informed consent for electroconvulsive therapy more difficult. With such interference, obtaining informed consent can be a slow and lengthy process, despite the use of patient brochures, videotape programs, and heartfelt educational discussions. A case is presented of an impasse in the informed consent process despite protracted and lengthy efforts, with lengthened hospital stay. The impasse continued until a volunteer discussed his own electroconvulsive therapy experiences with the patient. The use of an experienced volunteer with good interpersonal and communication skills can help avoid lengthening hospital stay to obtain informed consent, especially for patients with melancholic depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield 62794-9642, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Parvin
authors.forename: Conrad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: LaMontagne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007902:Length of Stay; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014838:Volunteers