A Survey of 1,144 ECT Recipients, Family Members, and Friends: Incidence, Severity, and Duration of Memory Deficits.

Patients and family members are rarely asked about memory deficits following electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This article reports the responses to an online survey of 858 ECT recipients and 286 family and friends from 44 countries. Four measures produced high incidence rates of memory loss resulting from ECT: spontaneous reporting of memory loss (84.5%), the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (60.8%), a question about anterograde amnesia (ability to retain new information; 70.3%), and a question about retrograde amnesia (loss of memory of life events; 80.4%). About half (55%) reported that ECT had made their retrograde memory "much worse," with 42% reporting the same for anterograde memory. For 65% of those experiencing anterograde amnesia, and 81% of those with retrograde amnesia, the deficit lasted 3 years or more. Family and friends reported slightly lower, but still very high, incidence, severity, and duration of memory loss. All four measures of memory deficits were correlated with the number of ECTs received (a "dose effect") and were worse with bilateral electrode placement compared with unilateral. Most survey respondents (78%) had received bilateral ECT. There was no evidence that memory loss had reduced in recent years, as often suggested. A convenience sample risked sample bias toward those with generally negative or positive attitudes toward ECT. Another limitation is that the findings were based on self-report. It is recommended that further research be conducted into ECT's long-term effects on memory, that evidence-based information is guaranteed to patients and families, and that effective monitoring for adverse effects be conducted, as well as appropriate assessment and rehabilitation for the many patients who feel damaged by ECT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]