Abbreviations; List of figures, tables and boxes; List of contributors; Preface Jonathan Waite and Andrew Easton; Introduction: the role of ECT in contemporary psychiatry Royal College of Psychiatrists' Special Committee on ECT and Related Therapies; 1. Mechanism of action of ECT Ian M. Anderson and Grace M. Fergusson; 2. The ECT suite Chris P. Freeman and Grace M. Fergusson; 3. Anaesthesia for ECT Simon C. Walker, C. John Bowley and Heather A. C. Walker; 4. ECT prescribing and practice Ross A. Dunne and Declan M. McLoughlin; 5. Psychotropic drug treatment during and after ECT Michael Dixon and Angelica Santiago; 6. Monitoring a course of ECT Allan I. F. Scott and Jonathan Waite; 7. Non-cognitive adverse effects of ECT Susan M. Benbow and Jonathan Waite; 8. Cognitive adverse effects of ECT Chris P. Freeman; 9. Dental issues related to ECT Denis Martin; 10. Training, supervision and professional development: achieving competency Grace M. Fergusson, Daniel M. Bennett and Susan M. Benbow; 11. Nursing guidelines for ECT Linda Cullen, Stephen Finch and Eammon Heaney; 12. Inspection of ECT clinics Chris P. Freeman, Joanne Cresswell, Grace M. Fergusson and Linda Cullen; 13. Other brain stimulation treatments Sarah Browne, David Christmas, Douglas Steele, M. Sam Eljamel and Keith Matthews; 14. The use of ECT in the treatment of depression Heinrich C. Lamprecht, I. Nicol Ferrier, Alan G. Swann and Jonathan Waite; 15. The use of ECT in the treatment of mania Andrew M. Whitehouse and Jonathan Waite; 16. The use of ECT in the treatment of schizophrenia and catatonia Christopher F. Fear, Ross A. Dunne and Declan M. McLoughlin; 17. The use of ECT in neuropsychiatric disorders Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy; 18. The use of ECT in people with intellectual disability Peter Cutajar, Jo Jones and Walter J. Muir; 19. Safe ECT practice in people with a physical illness Susan M. Benbow and Jonathan Waite; 20. ECT for older adults Susan M. Benbow; 21. The use of ECT as continuation or maintenance treatment Richard Barnes; 22. Consent, capacity and the law Jonathan Waite, Richard Barnes, Daniel M. Bennett, Donald Lyons, Declan M. McLoughlin and Hugh Series; 23. Patients' and carers' perspectives on ECT Jonathan Waite; Appendix 1. Out-patient declaration form; Appendix 2. ECT competencies for doctors Appendix 3. Example of a job description for an ECT nurse specialist; Appendix 4. Example of a job description for an ECT nurse/ECT coordinator; Appendix 5. Information for patients and carers; Appendix 6. Example of a consent form; Appendix 7. Useful contacts Appendix 7. Example of a certificate of incapacity; Index.