Study calls for research into use of shock therapy

A STUDY of mental health services in Galway has recommended further research into Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) to justify its continued use in psychiatric hospitals.

The recommendation follows a survey of patients subjected to the shock-therapy treatment, one third of whom did not experience any short-term benefit.

Feedback from patients prescribed the treatment also found that 67% of those who agreed to ECT felt pressured into having it, 43% said they did not experience any long term benefits and 57% said they had suffered side effects, including: