Can a seizure help?: The public's attitude toward electroconvulsive therapy

Despite controversial discussions in the general population, little is known about the public's attitude toward electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). We examined in a representative opinion survey (N=1737) (1) whether the lay public views ECT as an appropriate treatment for schizophrenia and depression, and (2) how demographic, psychological, sociological, and cultural variables influence attitudes. Most respondents (57%) considered ECT as a harmful treatment, and only a small number (1.2%) were in favor of ECT. A large number of respondents did not consider ECT as a treatment. We identified three predictors of negative attitude toward ECT (younger age, cultural area, greater degree of contact with the mentally ill; R-2=0.042). The finding was not affected by the type of illness. Thus, having a prejudice toward ECT is a 'uniform attitude' that does not significantly vary between individual, demographic, or cultural contexts. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.