The practice of ect in India: ii. The practical administration of ect.

Abstract

A questionnaire on ECT, tapping attitudes, opinions and usage, was mailed to all medical members of the Indian Psychiatric Society whose addresses were known; 263 (28.8%) responded. This paper, the second in a series that presents the results of the survey, describes the practical administration of ECT. Specific issues discussed are the availability of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation kit, ECT premedication, the ECT device, certain aspects of ECT stimulation, the electrode placement during ECT, administration of multiple ECT during a single treatment session and monitoring of the seizure duration. It is concluded that, in many respects, the practical administration of ECT in India in suboptimal; further research is required in certain areas.