Objective: To ascertain patients' views on the benefits of and possible memory loss from electroconvulsive therapy.
Design: Descriptive systematic review.
Data sources: Psychinfo, Medline, Web of Science, and Social Science Citation Index databases, and bibliographies.
Study selection: Articles with patients' views after treatment with electroconvulsive therapy.
Data extraction: 26 studies carried out by clinicians and nine reports of work undertaken by patients or with the collaboration of patients were identified; 16 studies investigated the perceived benefit of electroconvulsive therapy and seven met criteria for investigating memory loss.
Data synthesis: The studies showed heterogeneity. The methods used were associated with levels of perceived benefit. At least one third of patients reported persistent memory loss.
Conclusions: The current statement for patients from the Royal College of Psychiatrists that over 80% of patients are satisfied with electroconvulsive therapy and that memory loss is not clinically important is unfounded.