臺灣精神疾病病人接受電痙攣治療後之態度與經驗

The Experience and Attitude after Electroconvulsive Therapy in Taiwanese Patients with Psychotic Disorder

目的：探討臺灣精神疾病病人接受電痙攣治療後之態度與經驗，並回顧文獻，與國外研 究做比較。方法：收案24 位在公立精神專科醫院住院之頑抗型精神病病人，於接受電療 一星期後，以結構型問卷訪查，此問卷內容，包括四個面向：整體感受、對治療恐懼評估、 與其他治療比較及治療後之態度改變。結果：79.2% 的病人在接受電療後產生正面助益，但 只有58.3% 的病人願意再度接受電痙攣治療。另外58.3% 的病人寧願吃藥也不願意接受電痙 攣治療。54.2% 的病人對此治療都持有正面態度改變。結論：大部分精神病病人接受電痙攣 治療後，認為此治療對病情改善有正面效益，且態度趨於正面改變，此結果與西方國家之研 究相似。此外，精神科醫師也應在病人接受電痙攣治療前，詳加解釋治療之效益及副作用。

Objective: In this study, we intended to assess the experience and attitude of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in a sample of Taiwanese psychotic inpatients, to review the literatures and to compare with those from the western countries. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted, including 24 medication-resistant psychotic inpatients in a psychiatric hospital in Taipei. The self-report structured questionnaire includes four dimensions: (A) the patients’ overall experience and satisfaction with ECT, (B) the possible fears of ECT, (C) comparison to other medical procedures, and (D) the change of attitudes after ECT. All patients were interviewed with the questionnaire one week after their latest session of ECT. Results: The survey results showed that nineteen patients (79.2%) considered ECT benefi cial to improve their illness, and 14 patients (58.3%) would like to receive ECT if they became ill again. Fourteen patients (58.3%) preferred take medications to receive ECT. Overall, 13 patients (54.2%) reported that having had ECT changed their attitude about the treatment itself. Conclusion: Many patients in this study found ECT to be benefi cial and they were satisfi ed with it. Our research fi ndings were similar to those studies conducted in the western countries in spite of the diagnostic difference. In addition, psychiatrists need to provide more detailed information about ECT to the patients and their families when ECT is clinically indicated.