Electroconvulsive therapy use in New South Wales between 1944 and 1949.

Aims: To identify clinical and other factors associated with the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in New South Wales for the period 1944-1949 and to compare with contemporaneous practice.

Method: Annual reports of the Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals in NSW (1944/45 to 1948/49) were examined.

Main Findings: Seven hospitals reported a total of 8964 courses of treatment during the period. Demographically, 60.6% of patients who received ECT were female, and rural hospitals reported 13.6% of courses. ECT was as likely to be given for non-affective psychoses (37.7%), as for affective psychoses (35.0%). ECT was also administered for confusional states and non-psychotic disorders. Better outcomes were observed for depression, anxiety and confusional states than non-affective psychoses. Recovery rates declined over the study period. Mortality was <1%.

Conclusions: The clinical indications for ECT in the mid-twentieth century in NSW were much broader than currently. There has been no change in the sex ratio of patients administered ECT or reported mortality.