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  • Question on Consultation

    Do you agree on the proposal for withdrawing this technology appraisal? If not, please can you state why you disagree.

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    Are you aware of any implications for UK clinical practice on withdrawing this technology appraisal? If so, please describe.

2025 surveillance of electroconvulsive therapy (technology appraisal guidanceTA59, NICE guideline NG222, NICE guideline CG178, NICE guideline CG185, NICE guideline CG192)

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Other relevant guidance

The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) guideline on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) states that ECT is most commonly used for severe depression that has not responded to other treatments. It is also used to treat catatonia and, in some cases, mania or mixed episodes in bipolar disorder. The guideline mentions while ECT can help alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia that have not improved with medication in the medium term, its long-term benefits are less clear, and it is not commonly used for this purpose in the UK. The guideline does not recommend ECT for anxiety disorders or most other psychiatric conditions.

This RCPsych guideline aligns with existing NICE guidance, recommending ECT for similar indications while highlighting the importance of informed decision-making and awareness of potential risks.

ECT is recommended by international guidelines, including the 2020 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for mood disorders and the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT), as a treatment for acute depressive episodes with certain clinical features, such as psychosis.