PATTERN OF ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY USE AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTATIONS IN MOSUL CITY – A CROSS SECTION STUDY

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective psychiatric treatment that induces brief therapeutic seizures under general anesthesia and muscle relaxation. It is mainly used for severe depression, catatonia, bipolar disorder, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, especially when rapid improvement is needed or medications fail. Despite its proven efficacy, ECT remains controversial in some societies due to misconceptions, although its regulated use in many countries highlights its important therapeutic role. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to determine the pattern of ECT use among patients who attended psychiatric consultations in Mosul City. The study included 130 patients referred for ECT at Ibn Senna and Al-Salam Teaching Hospitals in Mosul, Iraq, between March and July 2025. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, ECT indications, frequency, and outcomes were collected using a structured questionnaire. Of the 130 patients, 77 (59.2%) were male and 53 (40.8%) were female; low socioeconomic status was predominant (84.6%); the most frequent diagnoses were schizophrenia (39.2%) and depression (26.2%); and pharmacological treatment resistance was the main indication for ECT (67.7%). Most patients (98.5%) showed clinical improvement, with patients with schizophrenia predominantly showing moderate improvement (60.8%), patients with depression showing marked improvement (38.2%), and patients with bipolar disorder and acute brief psychosis showing moderate improvement (78.9% and 69.2%, respectively). Improvement rates were high regardless of prior ECT history, and adverse effects were reported in 23.1% of patients, most commonly headache (12.3%), transient memory loss (3.1%), and confusion (1.5-3.9%), while 76.9% experienced no side effects. ECT is highly effective for patients with severe psychiatric disorders and is generally well tolerated, with adverse effects mostly mild and transient. These findings support the continued and safe use of ECT in psychiatric care, particularly for patients unresponsive to pharmacological treatments.