Investigation of Treatment Adherence and Life Satisfaction in Psychiatric Patients Treated with Electroconvulsive Therapy: A cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Bahareh Fakhraei Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
  • Pouria Taheri Student Research Committee, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
  • Navid Alinejad Department of Public Health, School of Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
  • Roya Dokoohaki Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Nursing and Midwifery School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
  • Saeedeh Jafarzadeh Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
  • Mahmoud Hatami Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
  • Afsaneh Ghasemi Department of Public Health, School of Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
  • Azizallah Dehghan Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
  • Mostafa Bijani Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18502/jabs.v16i3.21621

Keywords:

Electroconvulsive therapy; treatment adherence; life satisfaction; psychiatric patients

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical intervention primarily used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as refractory major depression, refractory bipolar disorder, and refractory schizophrenia among patients not responding to other therapeutic modalities. The present study aimed to examine treatment adherence and life satisfaction among psychiatric patients receiving ECT.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 and included 200 psychiatric in-patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy at Shariati Hospital in Fasa, southern Iran. Participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using three instruments: a demographic questionnaire, the Diener Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Treatment Adherence Questionnaire developed by Fatemi et al. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, with multiple regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation coefficient used to examine the relationships among variables.

Results: Among the participants, 66% (n = 132) were male and 34% (n = 68) were female. The mean scores for treatment adherence and life satisfaction were 80.02 ± 29.7 and 20.4 ± 8.03, respectively. No significant correlation was found between treatment adherence and life satisfaction (r = -0.086, p = 0.22). However, a significant positive correlation was observed between treatment adherence and the number of ECT sessions (r = 0.13, p = 0.05).

Conclusion: In light of these findings, clinicians and mental health practitioners are encouraged to adopt evidence-based frameworks designed to promote treatment adherence, thereby improving patient outcomes and enhancing overall life satisfaction. Failure to address adherence, particularly among vulnerable patient subgroups, may lead to substantial personal and social consequences.

Published

2026-05-31

Issue

Volume (16) issue (3)

Section

Articles