CHECK LIST

Before you and your psychiatrist decide on ECT, ask yourselves the following questions:

• Have you given other treatments long enough to work?
• Have you had the chance to talk about what is worrying you and do you have adequate social support?
• Is your depression (or other illness as listed in this booklet) severe and is treatment urgently needed?
• Have you had a full explanation of the need for treatment?
• How long will the treatment course last before your psychiatrist reviews your case to see whether ECT is helping?
• Does the hospital have good facilities, including full resuscitation equipment and up-to-date ECT machines which meet recommended standards? Will a qualified anaesthetist be present?