OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to survey the media landscape to determine whether visual depictions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are becoming more or less medically accurate in the new millennium. METHOD: English-language film and television shows depicting ECT were analyzed for patient demographics, administrator roles, indication, consent, anesthesia, paralytics, bite block, lead placement, electroencephalogram, and outcome. RESULTS: Thirty-nine ECT scenes were viewed, and just 3 included all 5 essential tools of modern ECT: anesthesia, paralytic, electrodes, electroencephalogram, and a bite block. CONCLUSIONS: Media depictions of ECT do not reflect current practice. Too often, ECT is portrayed as a torture technique rather than an evidenced-based therapy, and even in a therapeutic setting, it is too often shown with outdated techniques.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to survey the media landscape to determine whether visual depictions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are becoming more or less medically accurate in the new millennium. METHOD: English-language film and television shows depicting ECT were analyzed for patient demographics, administrator roles, indication, consent, anesthesia, paralytics, bite block, lead placement, electroencephalogram, and outcome. RESULTS: Thirty-nine ECT scenes were viewed, and just 3 included all 5 essential tools of modern ECT: anesthesia, paralytic, electrodes, electroencephalogram, and a bite block. CONCLUSIONS: Media depictions of ECT do not reflect current practice. Too often, ECT is portrayed as a torture technique rather than an evidenced-based therapy, and even in a therapeutic setting, it is too often shown with outdated techniques.
Authors: Nagy A Youssef; Mark S George; William V McCall; Gregory L Sahlem; Baron Short; Suzanne Kerns; Andrew J Manett; James B Fox; Morgan Dancy; Daniel Cook; William Devries; Peter B Rosenquist; Harold A Sackeim Journal: J ECT Date: 2021-12-01 Impact factor: 3.692
Authors: Nagy A Youssef; Dheeraj Ravilla; Cherishma Patel; Mark Yassa; Ramses Sadek; Li Fang Zhang; Laryssa McCloud; William V McCall; Peter B Rosenquist Journal: Brain Sci Date: 2019-04-29