RESEARCH AND EVALUATION Consumers’ views of electroconvulsive therapy: A qualitative analysis DIANA ROSE, PETE FLEISCHMANN & TIL WYKES SURE, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, UK Abstract Background: ECT is not a rare treatment in the UK today but little research has been conducted into users’ views of their experiences. Most of what exists is quantitative in nature. Aims: To investigate consumers’ views on the benefits and risks of ECT and to understand the controversy that exists between some users and their organizations and professional bodies. Method: Qualitative data was gathered from the internet, a video archive and consumer publications. This data is referred to as ‘‘testimonies’’. These testimonies were subject to a qualitative analysis using content analysis and a simple form of grounded theory. Results: Twice as many testimonies were very negative about ECT as were very positive. Testimonies revealed themes regarding the experience of receiving ECT which are never elicited by standard ‘‘attitude’’ questionnaires. The main side-effect of ECT apparent in the data was persistent memory loss. Conclusion: Qualitative analysis reveals that consumers’ views about health interventions such as ECT are complex and multi-faceted. Further research should seek to use qualitative methods with prospective or random samples as well as relying on theoretical sampling from sources such as the internet. Declaration of interest: The work reported here was funded by a grant from the Department of Health. However the arguments contained herein are the authors’ own. Keywords: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), consumers’ views, perceived benefit, memory loss, controversy. Introduction Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is not a rare treatment. It can be estimated that over 11,000 people receive the treatment annually in England and that one fifth of these receive it under compulsion (Department of Health, 1999). This paper presents an analysis of qualitative data collected as part of a review of consumers’ perspectives on ECT. A descriptive systematic review of clinical and consumer-led research studies has been reported elsewhere (Rose, Wykes, Leese, Bindman, & Fleischmann, 2003). In the qualitative analyses, we set out to elucidate the meaning of ECT for those who receive it. We were cognisant of the fact that some consumers and their organizations are opposed to Correspondence: Diana Rose, PhD, Co-ordinator, Service User Research Enterprise (SURE), PO 34, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. E-mail: d.rose@iop.kcl.ac.uk Journal of Mental Health, June 2004; 13(3): 285 – 293 ISSN 0963-8237 print/ISSN 1360-0567 online # Shadowfax Publishing and Taylor & Francis Ltd DOI: 10.1080/09638230410001700916 J Ment Health Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by King's College London on 05/30/14 For personal use only.