Reasons for referral for electroconvulsive therapy: a comparison between adolescents and adults.
OBJECTIVE
In order to improve our understanding of the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in adolescent patients, we aimed to evaluate the reasons for referral for ECT in different age groups.


METHODS
We compared the reasons for adolescent and adult referrals by a retrospective file review of 13 consecutive adolescents and 56 consecutive adults treated in our ECT unit during a 5-year period.


RESULTS
There was a significant association between age group and reason for referral. Non-response to pharmacotherapy was a significantly more common reason among adults. Adolescents were mainly referred due to catatonia and suicidal behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support the need to study reasons for referral to ECT, beyond non-response to pharmacotherapy, especially in adolescent patients.
Child and adolescent out-patient clinic, Shalvata Mental Health Center, Hod Hasharon, Israel.
Yuval
Y
Bloch
Doli
D
Sobol
Yechiel
Y
Levkovitz
Shmuel
S
Kron
Gideon
G
Ratzoni
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*