بررسی نگرش همراهان بیماران روانی نسبت به شوک درمانی الکتریکی

  Objective : ECT as a treatment for psychiatric patients, is not only a low risk but also is a very cost-effective treatment, both for the patients and the health care system. However, to initiate ECT treatment, it is mandatory to obtain the consent of the person(s) accompanying the patients. The accompaniers' attitude towards ECT is a determining factor in signing the letter of consent and following up treatment sessions. The present study was designed to examine the attitude of patients' accompaniers and the factors affecting their attitude. Method: 126 accompaniers were selected through available sampling procedure and were administered a demographic and an attitudinal questionnaire. The research data were analyzed via t-test, analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-whitney methods. Findings: the results demonstrated no significant relationship between the attitude of the accompaniers and their age, sex, literacy level or the type of their relationship with the patient. However, previous experiences of hospitalization in psychiatric wards and of past ECT, and the source from which the accompaniers obtained information on ECT, affected the accompaniers' attitudes. Accordingly, it is strongly recommended that the psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians and/or the nurses in charge of ECT provide the necessary briefing concerning ECT and that they introduce the new patients to the ones who have already received ECT.