Regional variation in electroconvulsive therapy use.
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Authors
Dunne, R
McLoughlin, D M
Issue Date
2011-Mar
Type
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most powerful treatment for depression, substantial variability in use has been described in Ireland. The Mental Health Commission collects usage data from approved centres but does not include home addresses or independent sector patients. Therefore, estimates of regional variation cannot be accurate, e.g. 145 (35% of total) independent sector patients were omitted from their 2008 analysis. When public and independent sector patients are combined inter-regional variation for 2008 is more than halved (chi-squared decreased from 83 to 30), with Western region contributing most to variation (chi-squared = 43). Ratio of ECT programmes to depressed admissions correlated negatively with rate for depressed admissions (r = -0.53, p = 0.01), while depressed admission numbers correlated with acute beds per area (r = 0.68, p = 0.001). Regional variation in ECT is less than previously reported; service factors probably account for much of this with smaller centres admitting severely ill patients more likely to require ECT.
Description
Citation
Dunne, R., & McLoughlin, D. M. (2011). Regional variation in electroconvulsive therapy use. Irish medical journal, 104(3), 84–87.
Publisher
License
Journal
Irish medical journal
Volume
104
Issue
3
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
0332-3102