The effect of supportive nursing care in reducing anxiety of patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy

Due to the high prevalence of mental disorders and the effectiveness of ECT، this treatment has been regarded as a useful and effective therapeutic measure. But patients have usually severe anxiety that can affect their mental health. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of supportive nursing care in reducing anxiety of patients receiving ECT.

This clinical trial was conducted in a Baharan Psychiatric Hospital of Zahedan. A total of 70 cases of patients who received ECT were randomly allocated to control (n = 35) and intervention (n = 35) groups. The data collection tools were demographic characteristics questionnaire، Spielberg State and Trait anxiety inventory (STAI) questionnaire. For the Intervention group the supportive nursing care was delivered by trained nurses on the intellectual، emotional، physical domains. The control group received only routine intervention. The anxiety level was measured and compared pre and post intervention) End sessions ECT) for two groups. The data was analyzed by SPSS using chi-square test، independent t-test and paired t-test and covariance.

Results showed that both groups were homogeneous on the socio-demographic differences. The mean state and trait anxiety in the intervention group compared with the control group was significantly reduced (P≤0/001). While controlling the effects of individual and social variables، the results showed significant differences between two groups in the mean scores of state and trait anxiety after the intervention (P≤0/001).

The Results confirmed supportive nursing care in reducing state، trait، and all anxiety of patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy. It is recommended to use this method for reducing anxiety in patients receiving ECT.