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%.

John Saunders, Chairman of the Mental Health Commission, says they want to see a reduction in the use of restraints and seclusion in the sector.

He said: "What we are saying is that, first of all, uses of restraint and seclusion are last resort techniques. We are worried that there is an increase.

"We have a strategy already published and which is available to the service about how you can actually manage these situations.

"I have to say there are a number of services where they have proactively put into place programmes to reduce the levels of restraint and seclusion and that has worked."