Citation

Tor PC, Tan J, Loo C. BJPsych Bull 2021; 45(3): 175-178.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Royal College of Psychiatrists)

DOI

10.1192/bjb.2020.99

PMID

32811589

PMCID

PMC7492578

Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an essential treatment for severe mental illnesses such as depression with suicidality and catatonia. However, its availability is being threatened by resource limitations and infection concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This may necessitate the triage of patients for ECT but there is no established ethical framework to prioritise patients. We offer an application of an ethical framework for use of scare medical resources in the ECT setting.

Language: en

Keywords

depressive disorders; Electroconvulsive therapy; ethics; stigma and discrimination; suicide