title: Use of electroconvulsive therapy in older Chinese psychiatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in older Chinese psychiatric patients. This study examined the frequency of ECT and the demographic and clinical correlates in older psychiatric patients hospitalized in a large psychiatric institution in Beijing, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective chart review of 2339 inpatients aged 60 years and older treated over a period of 8 years (2007-2013) in a university-affiliated psychiatric institution in Beijing. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from the electronic chart management system for discharged patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of ECT use was 28.1% in the whole sample; 37.9% in those with bipolar disorders, 43.6% in major depression, 21.2% in schizophrenia, and 10.7% in other diagnoses. ECT ("ECT group") was associated with 60-65-year age group, high risk for suicide and low risk for falls at the time of admission, use of mood stabilizers and antidepressants, lack of health insurance, and having major medical conditions and diagnosis of major depression. The above significant correlates explained 24.9% of the variance of ECT use (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a major psychiatric hospital in China, the use of ECT was common among older patients. ECT use in older patients treated in other clinical settings warrants further investigations.
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorders Centre, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Qiao
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorders Centre, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorders Centre, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Helen F K
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Chee H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: The University of Notre Dame Australia/Marian Centre, Perth, Australia.|School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Gabor S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ungvari
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Kelly Y C
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Lan
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Bao-Liang
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Xiang
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D002681:China; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: China; electroconvulsive therapy; older psychiatric patients; sociodemographic and clinical correlates