Hosseini Seyedeh Reihaneh, Shalbafan Mohammadreza, Ghannadi Farnaz, Boroon Mahsa, Askari Sanaz, Nazeri Astaneh Ali, Sayed Mirramazani Mostafa, Tapoi Cristiana, Pinto da Costa Mariana
Brain and Cognition Clinic, Institute for Cognitive Sciences Studies, Tehran, Iran.
Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute (PHRI), Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Front Psychiatry. 2025 Apr 14;16:1555896. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1555896. eCollection 2025.
This study aimed to examine the experiences of psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists in Iran with Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).
A cross-sectional survey, employing a 36-item questionnaire was conducted in Iran from March to November 2023. The survey targeted psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists, assessing ECT availability, training experiences, knowledge and attitudes.
173 responses were received. The majority of respondents were female (79.2%) and had experience in inpatient settings. About 63.0% reported ECT availability in their institutions, with 89.0% confirming the presence of specialised ECT centers within 100 km. Training in ECT was widely reported (96.5%), with 77.4% administering ECT to 10 or more patients during psychiatry training. However, only 55.5% were familiar with national ECT guidelines, and even fewer knew about international recommendations. Attitudes toward ECT were largely positive, with 86.2% agreeing on its effectiveness and 77.5% willing to recommend it to patients. ECT services were less frequently available in institutions where ECPs were employed compared to institutions where trainees were undergoing their psychiatry training. Confidence in ECT knowledge varied, with 52.6% feeling confident in their understanding, and 75.7% expressed interest in additional training.
The study highlights a gap between ECT training and confidence among Iranian psychiatrists. Positive attitudes toward ECT and a high level of interest in further training underscore the need for enhanced educational programs and the standardisation of guidelines. Addressing stigma and policy gaps is crucial for improving ECT access and utilisation.
本研究旨在调查伊朗精神科住院医师和早期职业精神科医生接受电休克治疗（ECT）的经历。
2023年3月至11月在伊朗进行了一项横断面调查，采用一份包含36个条目的问卷。该调查针对精神科住院医师和早期职业精神科医生，评估ECT的可及性、培训经历、知识和态度。
共收到173份回复。大多数受访者为女性（79.2%），且有住院部工作经历。约63.0%的受访者表示其所在机构可提供ECT，89.0%确认在100公里范围内有专门的ECT中心。ECT培训的报告很普遍（96.5%），77.4%的人在精神科培训期间为10名或更多患者实施过ECT。然而，只有55.5%的人熟悉国家ECT指南，了解国际建议的人更少。对ECT的态度总体积极，86.2%的人认同其有效性，77.5%的人愿意向患者推荐。与有住院医师接受精神科培训的机构相比，聘用早期职业精神科医生的机构中ECT服务的可及性较低。对ECT知识的信心各不相同，52.6%的人对自己的理解有信心，75.7%的人表示有兴趣接受更多培训。
该研究凸显了伊朗精神科医生在ECT培训和信心方面的差距。对ECT的积极态度和对进一步培训的高度兴趣强调了加强教育项目和规范指南的必要性。消除污名和政策差距对于改善ECT的可及性和利用率至关重要。
