Sociodemographic and healthcare profile of patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy at a referral hospital in southern Brazil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25118/2763-9037.2026.v16.1614Keywords:
electroconvulsive therapy, mental disorders, Brazil, ECTAbstract
Introduction: The management of severe and treatment-resistant mental disorders remains a major challenge in psychiatric practice, particularly in the context of limited response to conventional treatments. In this setting, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) represents an important therapeutic modality, primarily indicated for treatment-resistant depression, severe psychotic disorders, catatonia, and emergency situations such as high suicide risk. Objective: To characterize the clinical, sociodemographic, and healthcare-related profile of patients undergoing ECT and to describe its main therapeutic indications at a referral hospital in the countryside of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Method: The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (REC) of the University of Vale do Taquari under approval opinion N. 7,407,887 (CAAE: 85966825.6.0000.5310).This retrospective, descriptive, observational study was based on the review of medical records of patients who underwent ECT between August 2020 and August 2024. Results: A total of 49 medical records were analyzed. The most frequent category comprised female patients (63.3%), adults (40.8%), White individuals (95.9%), and residents of urban areas (77.6%). The most frequent indication for ECT was treatment-resistant depression (42.9%), followed by suicidal ideation (38.8%). The most frequent category regarding previous psychiatric diagnosis was the absence of a recorded diagnosis (32.7%), while major depressive disorder was the most frequent diagnosis among patients with an established diagnosis (26.5%). The most frequent route of access to ECT was through private health insurance plans (69.4%). Conclusion: This study contributes to the characterization of the clinical, sociodemographic, and healthcare-related profile of patients undergoing ECT at a referral center in southern Brazil. The findings highlight the need for multicenter studies with larger and more representative samples to further expand knowledge regarding factors associated with the indication, utilization, and clinical outcomes of ECT.
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