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Competence of psychiatric clinicians in interpreting electrocardiograms and QT intervals: can they do this? Does it matter?

Department of Neuropsychiatry, St Thomas Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE17EH, email: luke.solomons{at}gmail.com

Adrian Treloar, Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Old Age Psychiatry

Memorial Hospital, London

Ryan Noronha, Senior House Officer

General Adult Psychiatry, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

We assessed the abilities of trainee and consultant psychiatrists in reading and interpreting electrocardiograms (ECGs) and QT intervals using a questionnaire and standardised ECG.

RESULTS

Only 5% of our sample of trainee and consultant psychiatrists could correctly indicate a QTc interval. Performances on other measures, such as rate were also poor, with senior house officers performing better than consultants.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The increased awareness of problems caused by antipsychotics has not been reflected in improved knowledge of ECGs among psychiatrists. Machines do not reliably calculate QT intervals. We therefore urge better training and understanding of ECGs for psychiatrists.

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