About To Have ECT? Fine, but Don't Watch It in the Movies: The Sorry Portrayal of ECT in Film

By Garry Walter, M.D., and Andrew McDonald, M.D.
| June 1, 2004

Dr. Walter is clinical associate professor at the University of Sydney and director of the Thomas Walker Hospital ("Rivendell") of Central Sydney Mental Health Services, Sydney, Australia. Dr. McDonald is staff specialist psychiatrist at the Canterbury Community Mental Health Centre of the Central Sydney Mental Health Services, Sydney, Australia.

Despite a promising start, the portrayal of ECT in film has been deplorable and with little resemblance to modern practice. The audience is left with the impression of a brutal, harmful and abusive treatment with no therapeutic benefit. It encourages stigmatization and discourages patients from its use. Proponents of ECT will need to rely on tools other than movie portrayal to convince those with mental illness about the merits of this treatment.

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About To Have ECT? Fine, but Don't Watch It in the Movies

About To Have ECT? Fine, but Don't Watch It in the Movies: The Sorry Portrayal of ECT in Film

ECT Response Prediction: From Good to Great

Electroconvulsive Therapy in the Media: Coming-of-Age

Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Guide for Professionals and Their Patients

References
1. Gabbard GO, Gabbard K (1999), Psychiatry and the Cinema, 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press.
2. McDonald A, Walter G (2001), The portrayal of ECT in American movies. J ECT 17(4):264-274.
3. O'Shea B, McGennis A (1983), ECT: lay attitudes and experiences--a pilot study. Ir Med J 76(1):40-43.
4. Schneider I (1977), Images of the mind: psychiatry in the commercial film. Am J Psychiatry 134(6):613-620.
5. Schneider I (1987), The theory and practice of movie psychiatry. Am J Psychiatry 144(8):996-1002.
6. Walter G (1998), Portrayal of ECT in movies from Australia and New Zealand. J ECT 14:56-60.
7. Walter G, McDonald A, Rey JM, Rosen A (2002), Medical student knowledge and attitudes regarding ECT prior to and after viewing ECT scenes from movies. J ECT 18(1):43-46 [see comment].

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About To Have ECT? Fine, but Don't Watch It in the Movies: The Sorry Portrayal of ECT in Film

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