The objective of the current study was to provide a contemporary review of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) practice in Far North Queensland, Australia.

Demographic, diagnostic and treatment characteristics were extracted from the hospital files of people who received ECT between 2011 and 2013. Data were quantitatively analysed and described.

Depressive illnesses were the most common indicator for treatment. However, psychotic illnesses also made up a large proportion of treated cases. The technical aspects of treatment were commensurate with previous Australian findings except for the higher incidence of bifrontal ECT and maintenance treatment.

Further research is needed across Australia to determine whether the findings of the current study represent changes in Australian ECT practice.