BUT WHAT EXACTLY DOES THE AUDIT TELL US ABOUT ECT IN SCOTLAND?

The surveys findings can be summarised as follows:

• Approximately 1,000 people a year are given ECT treatment.
• The rate of ECT treatment in Scotland (1.42 per thousand every year) is as low as any found by comparable survey in the rest of Britain.
• In nearly three-quarters of cases (71.2%) there was a definite improvement in those patients treated for depressive illness.
• Over four-fifths of patients (81.8%) gave informed consent for the treatment.
• The use of ECT in the elderly (75 yrs and over) accounts for only 12% of the total number of patients given ECT.
• Twice as many women as men received ECT. The number of women admitted for depressive illness is also twice that for men. Depressed women in hospital are not more or less likely to get ECT than men.
• There were no significant regional variations in treatment or provision across Scotland.
• Prescription rates varied throughout the country but no significant trend could be seen for example, between hospitals serving rural, urban or mixed areas.