New Global Survey of Families Challenges Medical Claims of Electroconvulsive Therapy Safety and Efficacy

Family members in 22 countries report long-term memory loss and cognitive decline from ECT. New study validates patient concerns over psychiatric safety.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 22, 2026, 5:03 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

Family Perspectives Clash With Clinical Consensus

The perceived safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is being fundamentally challenged by those closest to the patients receiving the treatment. A new survey-based study involving relatives and friends of ECT recipients from 22 different nations suggests that the procedure, which involves passing electrical currents through the brain to induce seizures, often fails to deliver lasting benefits. While 45 percent of family members observed some improvement in the psychiatric conditions being treated, a nearly equal 42 percent reported that the therapy actually made the original problem worse, sparking an intense debate over the procedure's therapeutic value.

Quantifying the Decline in Quality of Life

The data indicates a sharp divide between medical benchmarks and the lived experiences of family units. According to the research, a significant 61 percent of respondents felt that ECT had a net negative impact on the patient's overall quality of life, whereas only 32 percent reported an improvement. This discrepancy highlights a growing concern that the clinical focus on symptom suppression may be overlooking the broader functional and emotional toll the treatment takes on individuals. The study’s authors emphasize that these results challenge the narrative that ECT is a reliable gold-standard intervention for severe depression.

The Persistence of Cognitive and Memory Deficits

One of the most consistent findings in the international survey was the presence of severe, long-lasting memory loss. Most relatives reported that their friends or family members suffered from memory deficits that lasted more than three years after the sessions concluded. Beyond memory, at least half of the respondents identified a suite of other adverse effects, including chronic fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and a noticeable emotional blunting. These cognitive impairments often led to a significant loss of independence for the patient and created new, complex strains on personal and familial relationships.