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Abstract Electroconvulsive therapy is often a life-saving treatment, which has been withheld from many until late in the course of their illness because of the social stigma, not because of the science. It could be a first line treatment however it is not out of the continuing stigma. The stigma exists because ECT is often still portrayed in the media in the relatively brutal way as it was first done decades ago, i.e. without anesthesia. Today, ECT is used in a much gentler and more humane way as patients are first anesthetized prior to generating the therapeutic seizure, thus avoiding the muscle movement once associated with them. Unfortunately, there is very little information available to the health care community and the general public about how current ECT is used and so the stigma from the past remains. The stigma of ECT is one of the main issues that need to be addressed worldwide, ECT is a technically advanced and effective treatment that is often misunderstood and maligned by the lay public and by psychiatrists as well public concern continues as a result of negative media portrayal, This outdated use of language leads to negative attitudes and prejudice. Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/) The mechanism of action of ECT is not fully known. ECT affects multiple central nervous system components, including hormones, neuropeptides, neurotropic factors, and neurotransmitters. The stigma associated with ECT is a specific area that needs to be addressed given that ECT is both a technically advanced and effective treatment that is often misunderstood and maligned by not only the lay public but by psychiatrists as well. Between 1938 and the 1950’s, there was extensive use of ECT. During that period of time, ECT was the major treatment, if not frequently the only biological treatment for mental illness. from the 1950’s through the 1970’s, with the advent of psychotropic medications (including the development of neuroleptics and of tricyclic antidepressants), a decline in the use of ECT was seen. In the 1970’s, concerns emerged related to the side effects of psychotropic medications, including the cardiovascular effects of the tricyclic antidepressants and the potential for tardive dyskinesia with neuroleptics. This concern resulted in a resurgence of interest in ECT and led to many studies and reports evaluating the effectiveness of this modality. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used frequently in developing countries, but investigations of patients’ awareness and perception of ECT are rare. Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/)In Egypt using modified ECT that changing the name of ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy) to BST (Brain Synchronization Therapy) has made a shift to the positive in the family awareness and patient’s acceptance. Explaining to the patient and family the procedure without the word convulsions and that this treatment with anesthesia and muscle relaxants will just produce blinking of the eyes rather than a full body convulsion has helped save and help many patients who were in need of this treatment. We have noticed, anecdotally, a change in refusal and stigma with a decrease in either after the introduction of these new names in the university hospitals. In addition families were more accepting of this treatment for a current episode of illness having on earlier admissions accepted the patient’s admission to hospital only with the proviso that they not receive “electric treatment”. Such observations do require formal study. Aim of the study was to Highlight the knowledge, experience and attitudes concerning ECT from patients perspective before and after receiving the treatment and Highlight the knowledge, experience and attitudes concerning ECT from relative perspectives before and after receiving the treatment. Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/) The study was performed at Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, department of Brain Synchronization Therapy. It was designed to assess the patients’ knowledge before receiving the first ECT session, attitude before and after receiving ECT sessions, experience after receiving ECT sessions. And also to assess the relatives’ knowledge, attitude and experience. It was carried from March 2015 until July 2015 during which the study included 60 patients and their relatives. The study included 60 patients and another 60 of their relatives. 47 of the subjects were male (78.3%) and 13(21.7%) subjects were females. 38 subjects were single (63.3%) and 22 (36.7%) subjects were married. 33 (55.0%) subjects were living in rural areas and 27 (45.0%) subjects were living in urban areas. 5 (8.3%) subjects were illiterate, 36 (60.0%) subjects had school education with different school levels and 19 (31.7%) subjects had a university education. 30(50%) subjects were employed and 30(50%) unemployed. 23(38.3%) subjects were diagnosed as Bipolar 1 disorder manic episode, 19(31.7%) subjects were diagnosed as Major depression disorder and 18(30.0%) subjects were diagnosed as schizophrenia. The study shows negative attitude toward ECT among patients and their relatives before receiving it compared to after receiving it. As, 76.7% of the patients were not glad to receive Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF ECT and 68.3% of the relatives were not glad that their patients received ECT. The study shows there is shifting toward positive attitude of the patients and their relatives (with more as regarding relatives) toward ECT sessions after receiving it.. A much larger and significant proportion of the relatives had clearly positive attitudes on 11 of the 16 items. And, 63.3% of the patients were glad to receive ECT and 88.3% of the relatives were glad that their patients received ECT. The study shows that the majority of the patients were unaware of the basic facts about the procedure of ECT, informed consent, indications, effectiveness, and side effects, 88.3% of the patients and 86.7% of the relatives. We found that 98.3% of patients and 95% of the relatives didn’t know about informed consent. These results mirror the dominant trend in literature, which suggests that patients who receive ECT often know little about what it exactly involves. We found no relation between attitude, knowledge and experience and socidemographic values (gender, marital status, residence and employment) except for the educational level showing highly significant value with the experience of the patients. Print to PDF without this message by purchasing novaPDF (http://www.novapdf.com/) The study shows that there is significant value between depressed patients and their attitude toward ECT more than BAD and schizophrenia. The current study there is positive attitude and experience toward ECT after receiving it among patient and their relatives with poor knowledge among both of them |