Electroconvulsive therapy practice in Kuwait

ABSTRACT

Electroconvulsive therapy [ECT] continues to be one of the most effective psychiatric treatments. This study examined all patients who received ECT in the Kuwait Psychological Medicine Hospital during the year 1992. Medical records were examined retrospectively to determine the sociodemographic and diagnostic characteristics, indications for ECT, duration of hospitalization and duration of any treatment prior to ECT administration. One hundred randomly selected patients who were admitted in the same period but did not receive ECT were used as a control group. ECT was used in 196 patients representing 8.7% of all admissions. Schizophrenia [39.3%] followed by Depressive Disorders [29%] and mania [15.3%] were the main indications for ECT. The findings revealed some aspects of divergence from the modern contemporary ECT practice and the need for their revision and modification is suggested