This audit is of particular interest to the Royal College of Psychiatrists ECT accreditations service and our local ECT department at the Warneford hospital.

ECT has the drawback of affecting memory to different extents. This audit looks at the effect of ECT on the cognitive function of the recipients.

A random sample of patients (who had received ECT in the last 2 years) was selected.

We looked at the following domains:

1. 1. Were the 3 forms returned to the ECT department.

2. 2. Was there any short or long term memory impairment.

3. 3. Problems with reading, speaking and concentration.

4. 4. Impairment of learned skills.

The majority of the respondents didn’t have major memory problems in remembering planned events, visits and appointments or in finding the right words when spoken.They didn’t believe that ECT worsened their long term memory.The majority advised that their overall memory is good.

The overall memory was retained in most respondents and it seems that ECT didn’t have a major impact on the long term memory, reading, speaking and learned skills.

Further research into more detailed cognitive functions and their changes after ECT will be conducted at a later stage next year.