A critique of narrative reviews of the evidence-base for ECT in depression

C F Meechan; K R Laws; A H Young; D M McLoughlin; S Jauhar

doi:10.1017/S2045796021000731

A critique of narrative reviews of the evidence-base for ECT in depression

Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2022 Jan 27:31:e10. doi: 10.1017/S2045796021000731.

Authors

C F Meechan¹, K R Laws², A H Young³, D M McLoughlin⁴, S Jauhar³

Affiliations

¹ Woodland View Hospital, Irvine, Ayrshire & Arran, UK.
² School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UK.
³ Centre for Affective Disorders, Psychological Medicine, IoPPN, King's College, London, UK.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, St Patrick's University Hospital, Ireland.

Abstract

There has been recent debate regarding the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of depression. This has been based on narrative reviews that contradict existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses. In this special article, we highlight the mistakes that occur when interpreting evidence using narrative reviews, as opposed to conventional systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Keywords: Electroconvulsive therapy; depression; evidence-based medicine; meta-analysis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Depression / therapy
Electroconvulsive Therapy*
Humans
Narration

Grants and funding

National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley National Health Service Foundation Trust and King's College London.