Electroconvulsive Therapy in Switzerland

Journal of Ect, vol. 39, pp. 197–201

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence and use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) varies widely across Europe. Historically, Switzerland played an important role in the worldwide spread of ECT. Nevertheless, an overview of current ECT practice in Switzerland is still lacking. The present study aims to fill this gap. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 using a standardized questionnaire to investigate current ECT practice in Switzerland. Fifty-one Swiss hospitals were contacted by email and followed up by telephone. In early 2022, we updated the list of facilities that offer ECT. RESULTS: Thirty eight of the 51 hospitals (74.5%) provided feedback to the questionnaire, 10 of them claimed to offer ECT. They reported 402 treated patients, which corresponds to an ECT-treated person rate of 4.8 persons per 100,000 inhabitants. Depression was the most frequent indication. All hospitals reported an increase in ECT treatments between 2014 and 2017 except for one with constant numbers. The number of facilities offering ECT almost doubled between 2010 and 2022. Most ECT facilities performed the treatment predominantly on an outpatient rather than an inpatient basis. CONCLUSIONS: Historically, Switzerland relevantly contributed to the worldwide spread of ECT. In an international comparison, the treatment frequency is in the lower middle range. The outpatient treatment rate is high compared with other countries in Europe. The supply and spread of ECT in Switzerland have increased over the past decade.

Authors 5

1. Saskia Wilhelmy corresponding Aachen Institute for History, Theory and Ethics in Medicine

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for History, Theory and Ethics in Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. Annette Beatrix Brühl

   Universitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders and Center for Geriatric Psychiatry, University Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Basel, Switzerland

3. Holger Himmighoffen

   University Hospital Zurich · Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

4. Andreas Conca

   Azienda Sanitaria dell'Alto Adige

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Service of the Health District of Bozen (SABES-ASDAA), Bozen, Italy

5. Michael Grözinger Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany