Psychiatrists Criticize WHO Call to Restrict Electroshock Treatment

Leading psychiatric organisations, including the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the European Psychiatric Association (EPA), have criticized World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on the treatment of mental disorders, according to Echo24.

The main objections focus on the WHO’s position on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which critics say is portrayed in the document as dangerous and subject to restrictions or a potential ban.

Experts argue that scientific evidence has long confirmed the effectiveness and safety of ECT, particularly in severe cases. They warn that such recommendations could reinforce stigma and limit patient access to established treatments. Some critics have suggested that the document reflects elements of anti-psychiatry thinking.

While the organizations welcomed the WHO’s emphasis on patients’ rights and a recovery-oriented approach, they called for a revision of the disputed sections. They stressed that in life-threatening situations, denying ECT could be unethical.

(mja)