Profile of the Patient and Indications of the Ect in Hospitable Complex of Albacete

Abstract

The ECT it continues being one of the principal treatments available and used in Psychiatry for the serious mental illnesses. A considerable variability exists between physicians and between geographical regions with regard to the use of the ECT as treatment of the first line or only of secondary form when the patients do not answer to other interventions.

The ‘therapeutic inhibition’ largely can be due to a stigma that is based on antiquated and old-fashioned beliefs to near the treatment, in spite of that the utilization of the ECT has been supported by numerous studies.

This practice can deprive the patients of an effective treatment, delay the response and prolong the suffering and possibly contribute to the resistance to the treatment.

With this study one tries to know the characteristics and diagnostic indications of all the patients who have been attended in the unit of Mental Health of the hospitable complex of Albacete, which they have needed treatment with ECT.

A descriptive study is realized, observacional, restrospectivo by a group of patients who have been necessary the ECT in a period of study understood between 3/4/2008 to 31/10/2013. Variables will be analyzed sociodemográficas and diagnostic as; Distribution for age, sex and marital status, number of meetings of received ECT, hospitable needed stay, indications for diagnosis, response to the ECT and side effects.