ECT in poetry.

Abstract

We sought to identify poems about Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and describe their major themes, with a view to using some of those poems in clinical situations-for persons receiving ECT and their families-as well as for teaching purposes. Several poems were identified, eight almost exclusively about ECT and a number of other works containing references to the treatment. The poets, some of whom have won distinguished prizes, came from the United States, U.K., Australia, and Estonia. The poems included very positive accounts of ECT and more denigrating pieces. Some of the themes covered by the poems were the desperate plight of persons prior to ECT, the potentially striking beneficial effects of the treatment, fears about the use of electricity, ECT procedure, and memory impairment, and the stigma associated with the treatment.