Of New York psychiatric facilities surveyed, 83% used ECT. Five percent
of patients in university and private nonprofit hospitals, less than 1% in
public hospitals, and 21% in private for-profit hospitals received ECT.
Practices and procedures were remarkably uniform, except that less than 17%
of units used unilateral ECT. Training programs were minimal and unplanned.
Differences in incidence of use result from staff training, public
antipathy, and economic factors.
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