Electroconvulsive therapy mostly used on women and older people, says study

Findings are a cause for concern and symptom of the 'over-medicalising of human distress', says co-author of report using NHS data

The use of electroconvulsive therapy to treat serious mental health problems is more prevalent in women and older individuals, researchers have found.

The study, which looked at data from a group of NHS trusts in England between 2011 and 2015, found that, on average, two thirds of recipients of ECT were women, and 56% were people aged over 60.