Knowledge and attitudes on electroconvulsive therapy in Germany: A web based survey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to examine knowledge and attitudes on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among the German population. METHOD: A web-based population survey based on a standardized questionnaire was used to examine knowledge and attitudes towards ECT as a treatment of severe depression among the general public (sample of 1000; representative in terms of age, gender and federal states of the German population). RESULTS: ECT is not well known and negatively connoted among the German population. A higher level of awareness and knowledge about ECT correlates with higher agreement to treatment with it. The analysis of feedback from the open question underlines the complexity of ECT: on the one hand, negative attitudes, stereotypes, and associations, and on the other hand interest, willingness, and acceptance to deal with the method were shown. CONCLUSION: The results suggest an urgent need for more information about the basic facts, psychiatric applications, and effectiveness of ECT in order to increase the level of awareness and knowledge, and thus the method's acceptance. An increase in acceptance would expand the therapeutic spectrum for the mentally ill. Correspondingly, persons affected and their relatives as well as physicians and healthcare professionals should be involved in awareness-raising measures.

Electroconvulsive therapy as viewed by german psychiatrists: a comparison of 3 subgroups.

OBJECTIVES: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a stigmatized treatment even among doctors. This restrains the accessibility of ECT for patients in need of this treatment. In Germany, the utilization of ECT is low as compared with other Western industrialized countries. However, increasing application rates of ECT in Germany indicate some degree of support from psychiatrists. Therefore, the present study examined the current attitudes among 3 subgroups of psychiatrists toward ECT. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent through e-mail to 423 psychiatric hospitals in the Federal Republic of Germany and through facsimile to 2550 specialists working in private practice. One hundred eighty-three (43%) of the institutions applied ECT (ECT facilities) and 240 (57%) institutions did not apply (non-ECT facilities). RESULTS: Nine hundred eighty-three answers could be evaluated. One hundred fifteen (63%) of the 183 ECT facilities, 118 (49%) of the 240 non-ECT facilities, and 751 (30%) of the 2500 specialists working in private practice responded. The general attitude toward ECT was favorable: most of the participants agreed that ECT is used less often than it should be to best serve patients' interests (61%-89%) and that it should be applied more often (54%-79%). Most of the participants thought that the image of ECT has improved among psychiatrists (61%-74%) but has not changed among fellow physicians, patients, and the general population. CONCLUSIONS: A surprisingly positive attitude toward ECT was found in our study among all 3 groups of German psychiatrists, which might further help improve patients' access to this treatment.