Advances in Nursing & Midwifery

Abstract

Background

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective intervention with no medication in many psychiatric patients. Since electricity and convulsions are evident in this method, many patients feel an unwanted fear from it, leading to noncompliance.

Purpose

This descriptive study was conducted to assess fear-related factors in patients undergoing ECT in psychiatric wards of hospitals affiliated to Shaheed Beheshti Medical University in 2008. 

Methods

200 patients were selected with nonrandomized sampling method. A questionnaire was used for data collection, validated and made reliable by content and internal consistency methods respectively. Data were collected by self-report method.

Results

99.5% of the subjects reported fear from the therapy while 0.5% experienced no fear. Factors related to procedures during the therapy were the most fearful ones in this regard.  

Conclusion

Most subjects experienced fear during electroconvulsive therapy more than what has been reported in other studies. The fear from the procedure of the therapy was the highest, which is congruent with past evidence. It can be concluded that education and counseling can reduce the fear to make the therapy more comfortable and acceptable for the patients.

Keywords: Fear, Electroconvulsive therapy, Psychiatry.