Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30041602›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2018

Decision making and support available to individuals considering and undertaking electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): a qualitative, consumer-led study.

Karen Wells, Justin Newton Scanlan, Lisa Gomez, Scott Rutter, Nicola Hancock, Anthony Tuite, Joanna Ho, Sarah Jacek, Andrew Jones, Hassan Mehdi and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychiatry, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.0field-weighted citation impact, top 24% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 30 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Electroconvulsive therapy and autobiographical memory.Psychiatry, psychology, and law : an interdisciplinary journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Karen WellsNew Horizons Inc, Ashfield, Australia. kwel8554@uni.sydney.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0001-8042-533X
Justin Newton ScanlanThe University of Sydney, Faculty of Health Sciences, PO Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW, 1825, Australia.
Lisa GomezNew Horizons Inc, Ashfield, Australia.
Scott RutterNew Horizons Inc, Ashfield, Australia.
Nicola HancockThe University of Sydney, Faculty of Health Sciences, PO Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW, 1825, Australia.
Anthony TuiteNew Horizons Inc, Ashfield, Australia.
Joanna HoSydney Local Health District, Mental Health Services, Concord, Australia.
Sarah JacekSydney Local Health District, Mental Health Services, Concord, Australia.
Andrew JonesSydney Local Health District, Mental Health Services, Concord, Australia.
Hassan MehdiSydney Local Health District, Mental Health Services, Concord, Australia.
Megan StillSydney Local Health District, Mental Health Services, Concord, Australia.
Graeme HallidaySydney Local Health District, Mental Health Services, Concord, Australia.
Sydney Local Health District · AUThe University of Sydney · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most controversial treatments in psychiatry. This controversy and diverse and often strongly held opinions can make decision making processes around ECT more complex.

methodThis consumer-led project explored the experiences of individuals who had received ECT in terms of the information they received, their experience of ECT and suggestions for ways that decision making processes and experiences of ECT can be improved. Interviews were conducted by consumer researchers who had also received ECT and transcripts were analysed using constant comparative techniques.

resultsSeventeen individuals participated. Four overarching categories were identified from participant interviews: Information matters; Preparation and decisions before ECT; Experience of ECT; and Suggestions for improvement. Most participants suggested that more information was required and that this information should be made available more regularly to support decision making. Additional suggestions included greater involvement of family and friends (including having a family member or friend present during the ECT procedure), opportunities to gain information from individuals who had received ECT and more support for managing memory and cognitive side effects.

conclusionThis study provides valuable consumer-provided insights and recommendations for psychiatrists and mental health clinicians working within ECT clinics and with consumers considering or preparing for ECT.

Indexed as

Decision MakingAdultElectroconvulsive TherapyFemaleHumansMalePatient Acceptance of Health CarePatient Education as TopicPatient SatisfactionQualitative ResearchConsumer-led researchElectroconvulsive therapyPatient experienceQualitative methodsService user research

Identifiers

PMID30041602
PMCPMC6056939
OpenAlexW2883414986

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.