Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective short-term treatment for depression and is ‘probably more effective than drug therapy’. ¹ However, the treatment remains controversial, with adverse effects being a major concern of both patients and the public, in particular the risk of memory impairment. A review of patients’ perspectives on ECT found that at least a third of patients reported persistent memory loss after treatment. ^{Reference Rose, Fleischmann, Wykes, Leese and Bindman2}

Research into the effect of ECT on memory function is a rapidly changing field. Previously, it was accepted that this treatment could cause temporary anterograde and retrograde amnesia, which could be minimised by using unilateral rather than bilateral ECT; ^{Reference Ingram, Saling and Schweitzer3} however, current work is clarifying the possibility and nature of more persistent memory loss. A recent systematic review suggested that autobiographical memory impairment after ECT can occur, recovering after several months, although a few studies reported more persistent deficits. ^{Reference Fraser, O'Carroll and Ebmeier4} A large prospective study found that cognitive deficits, including deficits in autobiographical memory, were apparent 6 months after completion of a course of ECT. ^{Reference Sackeim, Prudic, Fuller, Keilp, Lavori and Olfson5}

There is concern that inadequate information is given to patients about the adverse effects of ECT, specifically with regard to the effect on memory. ^{Reference Rose, Wykes, Bindman and Fleischmann6,Reference Rayner, Kershaw, Hanna and Chaplin7} The ECT Accreditation Service (ECTAS) has previously studied the clinical practice and training needs of psychiatrists who refer patients for ECT. These referring psychiatrists were likely to have difficulty explaining to patients the possibility of long-term cognitive side-effects, with a spread of opinion among them, ranging from informing patients about long-term cognitive side-effects, to saying that there was no evidence of such side-effects, or saying that the issue is controversial. Just over a third recognised further training needs, particularly on consent and assessment of memory during and after ECT. ^{Reference Blaj, Worrall and Chaplin8} There has been a gradual decline from 1985 to 2002 in the number of people in England receiving ECT, ⁹ and it is likely that this trend has continued. Thus referring psychiatrists will have less experience of this treatment.

The aim of our study was to gain a greater understanding of the clinical practice of psychiatrists with responsibility for administration of ECT in the UK (ECT specialists or lead ECT clinicians, hereafter referred to as ECT consultant psychiatrists), with specific reference to what they tell patients about the effects of ECT on memory and how they approach detecting and monitoring these effects. This was in order to obtain a consensus of expert opinion in this area.

Method

The ECTAS was established in 2003 to improve the quality of ECT provision in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Clinics judged to provide a satisfactory service to patients are accredited by ECTAS. At the time of this study (in 2007) ECTAS had recruited 87 member clinics out of an estimated 149 clinics. ^{Reference Cresswell, Hood and Lelliott10} One feature of signing up to the accreditation process is access to an email discussion forum. This forum was used for the purpose of recruitment in this study.

A questionnaire, consisting of 13 questions relating to issues about memory and ECT, was emailed to 108 practising UK psychiatrists identified from the discussion forum. The questionnaire included items requiring yes/no answers and open-ended questions where more detailed responses could be entered. Two further mailings were sent around 1 week and 7 weeks after the initial mailing. In addition, a written version of the questionnaire was sent by post 3–5 months later.

Descriptive statistics were used to present the results. Not all respondents answered all questions. Responses to open-ended questions were analysed qualitatively, whereby responses were coded and grouped into themes. The authors then met to agree a final coding framework.

Results

A total of 108 questionnaires were distributed, resulting in 69 responses (a 64% response rate). All the respondents were consultant psychiatrists and 62 of the 69 identified themselves as ECT consultant psychiatrists. All the results presented below are from this latter subgroup, 90% of the whole sample, hereafter referred to as the respondents. The responses of the seven psychiatrists (10%) who were not ECT consultant psychiatrists were excluded from further analysis. Of the 62 respondents, 33 (53%) were general adult psychiatrists, 28 (45%) were old age psychiatrists and 1 (2%) was a psychiatrist in forensic learning disability.

Table 1 summarises the information respondents gave to patients about the possible effect of ECT on memory. A section of the questionnaire asking for any additional comments regarding information given on memory loss was completed by 22 of the 62 respondents. Some of the themes were as follows: seven mentioned autobiographical memory loss, four qualified that memory loss was usually temporary but might be permanent, three referred to the effects of the depression on memory and two mentioned to patients that more research was needed.

Table 1.

Responses to questions about the effect of ECT on memory

	Number giving positive response/total answering question n/N	%
Do you discuss the possibility of memory loss with patients who you refer for ECT?	62/62	100
Do you inform them that memory loss may be:
Temporary?	60/60	100
Permanent?	56/60	93
For events just before and after ECT?	59/60	98
For events long before ECT (retrograde amnesia)?	44/56	79
For events that occur more than 3 weeks after ECT?	17/55	31
Are patients given a fact sheet that includes information on possible memory loss?	59/62	95
Do you give patients a choice between unilateral and bilateral ECT?
Yes	26/62	42
No	6/62	10
Sometimes	30/62	48

Of the 62 respondents, 33 answered a question asking them to give a brief outline if they had encountered a patient who had memory loss for longer than the period spanning ECT. Of these 33 psychiatrists, 8 commented that they had not encountered such a patient. Twenty gave outlines, examples of which are given below.

Table 2 shows the respondents’ practices regarding the routine assessment of memory for patients undergoing ECT. Several respondents commented that they tried to follow up patients to test memory at 3 months and 6 months but this was difficult to do, and one said the referring consultant and team did this.

Table 2.

Responses to the question ‘When do you or a member of your team routinely assess memory?’

	Number answering yes/total answering question n/N	%
Before treatment with ECT	55/61	90
Regularly during the treatment course	54/59	92
Three months after the course of ECT	30/55	55
Six months after the course of ECT	25/56	45

Of the 62 respondents, 55 left comments when asked how they assessed memory. Thirty-eight mentioned using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or some part of it; ^{Reference Folstein, Folstein and McHugh11} however, six stated that the MMSE as a tool was insufficient and an additional four referred to having no suitable tool with which to assess memory. Thirty referred to taking into account patients’ experience of memory loss if the patient complained directly, or by asking the patient directly or taking a history and doing a mental state examination. Three said they would carry out further tests if the patient complained of memory loss, including using the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination, ^{Reference Mathuranath, Nestor, Berrios, Rakowicz and Hodges12} or by referral for further neuropsychological assessment. Two were involved in research on this topic using a ‘battery of tests’.

Table 3 shows responses to the question, ‘Who obtains informed consent from patients for ECT in your team?’. Respondents could answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a list of possible staff. Not all respondents completed all questions. The ‘other’ category included associate specialists or doctors with Section 12 approval. Thus, more than one grade of medical professional in each service could obtain consent. It is clear that the majority of respondents considered it was the responsibility of the referring consultant to obtain consent, rather than the consultant with specialist responsibility for administering ECT.

Table 3.

Responses to the question ‘Who obtains informed consent from patients for ECT in your team?’

	Number answering yes/total answering question n/N	%
Referring consultant	59/59	100
Specialist registrar	22/32	69
Staff grade doctor	18/30	60
Senior house officer	13/29	45
Specialist ECT consultant	11/33	33
Other	4/12	33

Discussion

Almost all the ECT consultant psychiatrists in our study informed patients that ECT may cause memory loss that is temporary, permanent or for events just before and after the treatment, and also gave patients a fact sheet including information on possible memory loss. This indicates a consensus in this area. However, 79% of these psychiatrists informed patients about the possibility of longer retrograde amnesia, and less than a third informed patients about the risk of memory loss for events occurring more than 3 weeks after ECT. The findings appear to be consistent with what is currently known about the effect of ECT on memory.

Although the majority of respondents routinely assessed memory before and during the course of ECT, memory was less likely to be assessed 3 months later and even less likely 6 months later. The most common method used was the MMSE (which a number of respondents said was inadequate for this purpose) and clinical interview.

The findings seem to reflect the lack of clarity on the best way to measure and monitor the memory side-effects of ECT. The Royal College of Psychiatrists guidance and ECTAS standards recommend that memory is assessed before and after the first ECT and reassessed at intervals throughout the treatment course, but the means of assessment and intervals are not specified. ^{13,Reference Cresswell and Hood14}

Two ECTAS standards that an accredited clinic would be expected to meet include the recording of subjective and objective cognitive side-effects between treatment sessions and a clinical interview at the end of the ECT course to establish any autobiographical memory loss. Standards for an ‘excellent’ clinic include recording patients’ subjective and objective cognitive side-effects 3 months and 6 months after completion of a treatment course. ^{Reference Cresswell and Hood14} The guidelines suggest use of a memory log, although details are not specified.

The referring consultant rather than the ECT consultant psychiatrist was most likely to obtain consent from the patient, and in some cases middle-grade or even junior doctors were doing this. The ECT consultant psychiatrists are unlikely to be imparting information (and their specialist knowledge of ECT) other than to their own patients. This reflects the broad guidance given by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the ECTAS standards. The College recommends that consent is obtained only by a registered medical practitioner with adequate knowledge of the nature and effects of ECT but does not state the grade or seniority of the psychiatrist. Each ECT clinic should have a policy about who is deemed competent to obtain consent in clinical teams who refer to the clinic. ¹³ The ECTAS standards state that the referring consultant should assess whether the patient can give valid consent. ^{Reference Cresswell and Hood14}

Declaration of interest

All the authors work with ECTAS.