Continuation-maintenance electroconvulsive therapy: Quality standards in 3 Australian aged psychiatry services

Objective: To check if experienced psychiatrists in Victoria, Australia, observed the standards outlined by the American Psychiatric Association and the Royal College of Psychiatrists regarding the administration and monitoring of continuation-maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Methods: A retrospective chart review of 60 consecutive patients given continuation-maintenance ECT in 3 Victorian public aged psychiatry services. Results: Practice guidelines were often not observed concerning documentation oftreatment plans, mental state reviews and patients' and carers' viewpoints. Conclusions: Continuation-maintenance ECT proved highly effective in this clinical sample. Our audit identifies areas for improvement in clinical practice. It will be helpful to have a simple checklist of treatment plans, rating scale scores, and discussions with patients and carers that clinicians can complete at regular intervals.