Figures show rise in use of ECT on psychiatric patients in Ireland

The use of seclusion, physical restraint and Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on psychiatric patients has gone up in Ireland for the first time in years.

Figures from the Mental Health Commission for 2013 show that overall the administering of ECT rose by 2% in 2012, while the number of cases where the patient did not consent was up 14%.