Trends in use of electroconvulsive therapy among geriatric patients over a period of 9 years at a tertiary care center in North India

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an important modality of treatment for various psychiatric disorders in all age groups. The trends of use of ECT in the elderly population have not been studied despite wide variation in the utilization of this treatment modality. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the trends in use of ECT in geriatric patients at a tertiary care center over a period of 9 years. Methodology: Data were extracted from the departmental registry for the period of 2008–2016 to evaluate the total number of new patients attending the psychiatric services, total number of new elderly (i.e., ≥60 years) patients attending the psychiatric services, total number of inpatients, total number of elderly inpatients, total number of patients who received ECT, and total number of elderly patients who received ECT. Results: During the period of 2008–2016, elderly formed from 4.6% to 19.11% of the total number of patients who received ECT. There was an upward trend in the proportion of elderly patients receiving ECT, with a nearly 10-fold rise in absolute number and doubling of the percentage of elderly patients among those receiving ECT. Over the years, there was an increase in use of ECT among elderly inpatients and use of ECT as an outpatient treatment for elderly. Conclusion: Over the years, there has been increase in the absolute number as well as proportion of elderly patients receiving ECT. There is a significant increase in the use of ECT among elderly at the outpatient basis.