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The use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in the treatment of psychiatric conditions at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town. A retrospective audit
Background: Mental disorders are amongst the most prevalent and pervasive group of disorders worldwide. In South Africa the treatment for mental disorders utilizes a biopsychosocial approach. A small proportion of patients may require ECT. In South Africa the use of ECT is sparse with great heteroge...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | Eng |
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Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health
2024
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| _version_ | 1867613335129686016 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Clay, Keagan |
| author2 | Dannatt, Lisa |
| author_browse | Clay, Keagan Dannatt, Lisa |
| author_facet | Dannatt, Lisa Clay, Keagan |
| author_sort | Clay, Keagan |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Background: Mental disorders are amongst the most prevalent and pervasive group of disorders worldwide. In South Africa the treatment for mental disorders utilizes a biopsychosocial approach. A small proportion of patients may require ECT. In South Africa the use of ECT is sparse with great heterogeneity regarding indications and practice. More research within the South African context would aid policy planners and managerial stakeholders to set protocols and standards for national and provincial guidelines and standard operating procedures for quality assurance in research and practice. The aim of the study was to perform a clinical audit of the ECT service at Valkenberg Hospital by investigating the prevalence, demographics, diagnoses, indications and outcomes of patient's medical folders receiving ECT. Methods: This study utilized a retrospective cohort quantitative design; and was completed by examining the folders and ECT records of all patients who received ECT at the Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital ECT Lab from January 2015 to January 2020. Patient data was collected and exported to an Excel spreadsheet and statistical analysis was completed looking at defined data criteria. Results: A total of 22 patients received ECT at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital between January 2015 to January 2020. Half the patients were 35 years of age or younger. Just over half (n = 12; 54.5%) were male. Most patients (63.6%) were on the Schizophrenia spectrum. The main indication for ECT was catatonia (n = 12; 55%), followed by bipolar depression (n = 4; 18%). The least common indications for ECT were bipolar mania and schizophrenia (n = 1; 4%). Patients had an average of 9 ECT sessions. 81% of patients had adequate short-term response to the treatment. 72.7% had adequate long-term treatment response. The majority of patients (81.8%) had no complications from treatment. Conclusion: ECT sessions had low complication rates and high rates of adequate short-term outcomes. In this setting ECT was primarily used in treatment resistant patients. ECT is being underutilized as a treatment option despite its low complication rate and effectiveness. Key Words. ECT (Electro-convulsive therapy); Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital; Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders; Treatment Resistance. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/40419 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | Eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:34:28.941Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publishDateRange | 2024 |
| publishDateSort | 2024 |
| publisher | Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| publisherStr | Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/40419 The use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in the treatment of psychiatric conditions at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town. A retrospective audit Clay, Keagan Dannatt, Lisa Psychiatry and Mental Health Background: Mental disorders are amongst the most prevalent and pervasive group of disorders worldwide. In South Africa the treatment for mental disorders utilizes a biopsychosocial approach. A small proportion of patients may require ECT. In South Africa the use of ECT is sparse with great heterogeneity regarding indications and practice. More research within the South African context would aid policy planners and managerial stakeholders to set protocols and standards for national and provincial guidelines and standard operating procedures for quality assurance in research and practice. The aim of the study was to perform a clinical audit of the ECT service at Valkenberg Hospital by investigating the prevalence, demographics, diagnoses, indications and outcomes of patient's medical folders receiving ECT. Methods: This study utilized a retrospective cohort quantitative design; and was completed by examining the folders and ECT records of all patients who received ECT at the Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital ECT Lab from January 2015 to January 2020. Patient data was collected and exported to an Excel spreadsheet and statistical analysis was completed looking at defined data criteria. Results: A total of 22 patients received ECT at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital between January 2015 to January 2020. Half the patients were 35 years of age or younger. Just over half (n = 12; 54.5%) were male. Most patients (63.6%) were on the Schizophrenia spectrum. The main indication for ECT was catatonia (n = 12; 55%), followed by bipolar depression (n = 4; 18%). The least common indications for ECT were bipolar mania and schizophrenia (n = 1; 4%). Patients had an average of 9 ECT sessions. 81% of patients had adequate short-term response to the treatment. 72.7% had adequate long-term treatment response. The majority of patients (81.8%) had no complications from treatment. Conclusion: ECT sessions had low complication rates and high rates of adequate short-term outcomes. In this setting ECT was primarily used in treatment resistant patients. ECT is being underutilized as a treatment option despite its low complication rate and effectiveness. Key Words. ECT (Electro-convulsive therapy); Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital; Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders; Treatment Resistance. 2024-07-05T13:11:53Z 2024-07-05T13:11:53Z 2024 2024-07-02T14:06:02Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MMed http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40419 Eng application/pdf Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Faculty of Health Sciences |
| spellingShingle | Psychiatry and Mental Health Clay, Keagan The use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in the treatment of psychiatric conditions at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town. A retrospective audit |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | The use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in the treatment of psychiatric conditions at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town. A retrospective audit |
| title_full | The use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in the treatment of psychiatric conditions at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town. A retrospective audit |
| title_fullStr | The use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in the treatment of psychiatric conditions at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town. A retrospective audit |
| title_full_unstemmed | The use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in the treatment of psychiatric conditions at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town. A retrospective audit |
| title_short | The use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in the treatment of psychiatric conditions at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town. A retrospective audit |
| title_sort | use of electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of psychiatric conditions at valkenberg psychiatric hospital in cape town a retrospective audit |
| topic | Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40419 |
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