World psychiatric assocation position statement on the use and safety of electroconvulsive therapy

This position statement on the use and safety of electroconvulsive therapy [ECT] has been prepared on behalf of the WPA Section on Biological Psychiatry at the request of the Executive Committee of the WPA. The statement is informed by available evidence and reference will be made to guidelines produced by a number of authoritative bodies, including the American Psychiatric Association, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the UK National Institute of Clinical Excellence [NICE] and the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry. Moreover, for depressive disorders particular reference will be made to the recently published systematic review and meta-analysis by the UK ECT Review Group [2003]