HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chung, K.-F. Articles by Cheung, H. K. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Chung, K.-F. Articles by Cheung, H. K.

Electroconvulsive therapy in Hong Kong

Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China

Y. K. Ng, Chief of Service

Kwai Chung Hospital, Hong Kong SAR

G. C. Yiu, Chief of Service

Department of Psychiatry, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong SAR

H. K. Cheung, Chief of Service

Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong SAR

Correspondence: Tel: 852-28554487, fax: 852-28551345. e-mail: kfchung{at}hkucc.hku.hk

AIMS AND METHOD

We conducted the first systematic territory-wide survey of electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) practice and utilisation in Hong Kong. All public ECT services were evaluated with a postal questionnaire, a visit and observations of ECT administration. All private ECT practitioners were surveyed using a postal questionnaire.

RESULTS

Most practice areas at the public ECT services in Hong Kong complied with College guidelines. However, a few private practitioners were still using outdated ECT machines. The number of ECT courses completed in 1998 was 0.34 per 10 000 population, which was much lower than the rate of ECT use in Western countries.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

We obtained basic information on ECT services in Hong Kong and on areas requiring immediate attention.