Clinicians' Racial Bias Contributing to Disparities in Electroconvulsive Therapy for Patients From Racial-Ethnic Minority Groups.

Patients from racial-ethnic minority groups undergo disparate electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatment compared with Caucasian peers. One leading hypothesis is that clinicians may unknowingly display racial bias when considering ECT for patients of color. Studies have consistently shown that patients of color face numerous racially driven, provider-level interpersonal and perceptual biases that contribute to clinicians incorrectly overdiagnosing them as having a psychotic-spectrum illness rather than correctly diagnosing a severe affective disorder.

Achieving Equity in Informed Consent: A Culturally-Informed Perspective for the Consideration and Consent of Minority Patients for Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is highly efficacious to treat severe depression in older adults. Yet, patients of ethnic and racial minorities are consistently underrepresented amongst those who receive ECT across all age groups. One strong hypothesis to explain this disparity is that minority patients are less likely to trust medical professionals and are therefore less likely to consent for ECT.