A comparison of the ethnic distribution in the depressed inpatient population and in the electroconvulsive therapy clinic.

OBJECTIVES: It is often assumed that depressed members of ethnic minorities in Western countries are more likely to be treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) than white patients. The aim of this study was to test such assumption in the area of London covered by our mental health Trust.
METHODS: We examined the electronic records of all admissions with a diagnosis of major depression (n = 2422) to the 3 hospitals in a London mental health Trust for a period of 4 years. Their ethnic characteristics were analyzed and compared, according to whether they had received ECT or not.
RESULTS: Depressed inpatients treated with ECT were more likely to be white than depressed inpatients who were not treated with ECT (odds ratio, 7.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.3-23.3). This excess remained significant after patients aged older than 65 years were excluded from the comparison.
CONCLUSIONS: This survey highlights the need to ensure that members of ethnic minorities have equal access to all effective psychiatric treatments, including ECT.