Patient education by electroconvulsive therapy-experienced volunteer.

By diminishing the patient's attention, concentration, motivation, and decisiveness, melancholic depression makes the process of informed consent for electroconvulsive therapy more difficult. With such interference, obtaining informed consent can be a slow and lengthy process, despite the use of patient brochures, videotape programs, and heartfelt educational discussions. A case is presented of an impasse in the informed consent process despite protracted and lengthy efforts, with lengthened hospital stay. The impasse continued until a volunteer discussed his own electroconvulsive therapy experiences with the patient. The use of an experienced volunteer with good interpersonal and communication skills can help avoid lengthening hospital stay to obtain informed consent, especially for patients with melancholic depression.