Out on PubMed today from colleagues in Belgium and the Netherlands is this new study:

 Understanding ECT-related anxiety: a prospective study.
Obbels J, Vansteelandt K, Verwijk E, Lambrichts S, Bouckaert F, Sienaert P.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2020 May 31. doi: 10.1111/acps.13198. Online ahead of print.PMID: 32474903
The abstract is available from the above link, and the conclusions are copied below:
There are individual differences in ECT‐related anxiety trajectories during ECT. Both female patients and patients with psychotic depression experienced more ECT‐related anxiety before the start of ECT. The severity of ECT‐related anxiety decreased significantly in patients with a psychotic depression, but remained stable in patients without a psychotic depression during ECT. In addition, patients who showed a stronger decrease in depression‐severity also showed a stronger decrease in ECT‐related anxiety. A better understanding of ECT‐related anxiety‐trajectories can help in designing anxiety‐reducing interventions.
Dr. Obbels and colleagues are to be commended for their focus on this very important, yet often overlooked, aspect of patient care. This is a carefully conducted study in 74 patients who received ECT for depression, using the ECT-related Anxiety Questionnaire (ERAQ).
It reminds us that our patients' experience can be improved by assessing and addressing individual concerns about various aspects of the entire ECT procedure. ECT personnel will benefit from a close reading of this study, and reflection on how best to help their patients cope with ECT-related anxiety.




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