title: Electroconvulsive therapy use in Otago, New Zealand: a 10-year retrospective audit of patient-level treatment data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are wide global variations in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) use patterns. This audit reviewed patient-level ECT use patterns over 10 years at a single New Zealand clinic, including factors associated with clinical response and patterns of repeated administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective audit of all 2003-2012 ECT and clinical file data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 199 patients received ECT, which was used to treat mostly affective disorders in a predominantly female, older population, generally with a single course of treatment. There were different demographics and patterns of ECT use between patients being treated for affective and psychotic disorders. Overall treatment response was high, with over 90% of patients having a full or partial response. Treatment response was not associated with diagnosis, gender, or medication use, but showed a trend in significance for greater response in elderly patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ECT use patterns in Otago New Zealand are similar to those reported in Australia, USA, and UK, although yearly use rate in Otago is lower. Because of their different demographic and ECT treatment patterns, future studies should report data for patients with affective and psychotic disorders separately.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Grandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sophia Leon
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: de la Barra
authors.affiliation: Southern District Health Board, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Annalise
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand paul.glue@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Glue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Affective disorders; ECT; New Zealand; audit; psychosis; treatment response factors