Decision making processes of older women offered ECT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study exploring the decision making processes of women aged 60 and above that are offered Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT) as a treatment for severe depression.
IRAS ID
256566
Contact name
Sarah Butchard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 12 days
Research summary
Within the United Kingdom older women have been identified as the largest population to receive acute and maintenance electro-convulsive therapy (ECT; ECTAS, 2017). However, little is known about the decision-making processes that older women engage in when deciding whether to have ECT. This qualitative study therefore aims to explore and obtain a greater understanding of the decision-making processes of older women that are offered ECT as a treatment for severe depression, in order to assist the planning of future clinical practice and improve the support offered to this population.
Up to 10 women from England aged 60 and over who have faced a decision in relation to receiving ECT as a treatment for severe depression since becoming 60 years of age will be recruited for participation in this research. Women who have not been involved in the decision making around whether to receive ECT, for example individuals that have been deemed to lack capacity to make an informed decision around ECT, as assessed through the use of the Mental Capacity Act (2005), will be excluded from participating in the study.
The researcher will meet with participants at their home, NHS sites in England or at The University of Liverpool's campus. Once informed consent has been obtained data will be collected via an audio-recorded semi-structured interview; the duration of this will be approximately 1.5 hours. A distress protocol will be followed throughout the study. Signposting information and the researchers contact details will also be available to participants.
The researcher will utilise a narrative analysis approach in order to analyse data and it is estimated that the study will be completed in September 2020. Feedback will be provided to participants and services within an accessible format and the researcher will explore disseminating the findings of this research in academic papers and conferences.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0430
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion