Abstract
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment modality of serious conditions in psychiatry. Nevertheless, the majority of the public and some health workers take a negative attitude.
The objective of our research was to detect public opinion on the use of ECT in the Czech Republic. We had prepared a questionnaire and distributed it among health professionals, medical students before their practices in psychiatry and general public.
We evaluated the influence of sociodemographic factors. Until now the view of ECT has been influenced by media.
Due to the negative stereotype of the method many people are afraid of ECT but their concerns are not based on reality. Also health professionals and medical students are influenced by public stigma of ECT.
They think that ECT may have serious side effects, cause death or other mental illness. Most people, however, argued that ECT is acceptable if its recommended by the doctor.
The most effective way to eliminate the stigma of ECT is to improve the awareness of the public about this method through the media. Further efforts are needed to improve the education of medical students.
There is the constant modernization of ECT with reduced side effects.