Cognitive assessment during a course of electroconvulsive therapy - A national questionnaire survey of current practice in Aotearoa, New Zealand

Abstract

Objective: To shed light on current practice regarding cognitive assessment during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) across Aotearoa. Design/Participants: 24 medical professionals representing all ECT administering district health boards responded to an electronic questionnaire. Results: 73.7% assess cognitive function at least once during a course of ECT. 27.3% assess at baseline, at least once during the course and again post-treatment. Assessments are primarily conducted by nurses (38.8%), psychiatrists (22.2%) and psychologists (22.2%). 66% of respondents reported cognitive assessment was not conducted frequently or thoroughly enough in their workplace due to a lack of time, resources and sensitive tests. Conclusion: Respondents recognised assessing cognitive change during a course of ECT was important, though large variations in the nature, frequency and length of assessments existed. Future research should focus on the development of a sensitive screening measure tailored for use with patients receiving ECT to help overcome the current restrictions to cognitive assessment.