News
Standards for Electroconvulsive Therapy 2025 Released
Download page as PDFI am pleased to announce the release of the Chief Psychiatrist’s Standards for the Administration of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Western Australia 2025. These standards update and replace the previous standards published in 2015.
ECT remains an important evidence-based therapy option in contemporary psychiatric practice.
ECT services are highly regulated in Western Australia, and can only be administered by mental health services approved by the Chief Psychiatrist under s. 544 of the Mental Health Act 2014. Compliance with the Chief Psychiatrist’s Standards is required for approval as an ECT service.
The standards should be read in conjunction with the Chief Psychiatrist’s Guidelines for the use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Western Australia 2024, which were released in October 2024, and which provide details and discussion regarding the provision of ECT.
It is intended that these standards will be regularly reviewed and revised to maintain contemporary best practice for the delivery of ECT into the future.
Any queries should be directed to the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist at reception@ocp.wa.gov.au.
Dr Nathan Gibson
Chief Psychiatrist of Western Australia