Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Qualitative Study

Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Qualitative Study By Maede E. Jaredar M. Sc. In neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada

Healthcare providers perspectives dominate electroconvulsive therapy literature. This study emphasizes on the importance and validity of storytelling from the patient perspective.

Women receive more ECT than men so this paper focuses on the female perspective with an aim to extend formal understanding of this genders experiences and encourage better practice.

Personal accounts are valid and can be utilized in research.

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A side note: I’ve studied ECT for nearly a decade now and was taken aback out how considerate the researchers were of their vulnerable participants.

This is one of the most careful, compassionate pieces of ECT research I have ever seen.

It opens with this quote:

“Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain”
Sheikh Saadi,
Persian poet of the medieval period

There are so many layers of protection were put in place so participants felt safe and in control of their stories.

There was a psychologist present in case recalling their experiences of electroshock caused distress.

This is absolutely astonishing if you spend your days reading content like links below:

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