title: The Practice of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Asia: Variations and Deviations From the Guidelines-A Response to Dr Grunhaus.
abstract: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is widely used in most countries in Asia. There are several regards in which the practice of ECT in this region deviate from the guidelines issued by the American Psychiatric Association and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The deviations are a matter of concern but are not surprising, considering that most previous surveys have also documented deviations from these guidelines. We are trying to explain all probable causes of this suboptimal practice, and then, we recommend how to improve the practice of ECT in Asian countries.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Pharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India; †Department of Psychiatry, Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand; ‡Department of Psychiatry, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA; §Bradgate Mental Health Unit, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK; ∥Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India and ¶Department of Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chittaranjan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Worrawat
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chanpattana
authors.forename: Barry A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Girish
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kunigiri
authors.forename: Bangalore N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Gangadhar
authors.forename: Rungrueng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kitphati