Trends for Electroconvulsive Therapy Utilization in Children and Adolescents in the United States From 2002 to 2017: A Nationwide Inpatient Sample Analysis

Objectives Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is controversial in children and adolescents (C/A). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate baseline characteristics of C/A in the utilization of ECT compared with the non-ECT group with the same primary indication. The secondary objective was to assess the trends in ECT utilization over 16 years and explore the predictors of length of stay. Methods Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from the years 2002 to 2017, we identified patients (age ≤18 years) undergoing ECT in the United States using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System codes and compared with non-ECT C/A patients with the same primary diagnosis. Baseline clinical characteristics were assessed using descriptive analysis methods. Multilevel regression analysis and trend analysis were performed. Results Children and adolescent patients (n = 159,158) receiving (ECT: n = 1870) were more likely to be men (43.3% vs 36.7%) and of White race (58% vs 49%) (P
Source: The Journal of ECT - Category: Psychiatry Tags: Original Studies Source Type: research