Stephen Kelly and Linda Kelly show how staff providing this controversial treatment created a service that is regarded as a benchmark of excellence at a hospital in Scotland

A variety of psychiatric disorders have been treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) since the late 1930s, but myths and misconceptions held by the general public, clinicians, and patients about it have continued ever since. In many psychiatric hospitals the departments delivering ECT have been underfunded and have a low profile. This article explains how support and funding was acquired to develop an ECT service that has improved patient care and safety. This development has also raised the profile of this often-controversial treatment in the local health board.