Out of 1,816 patients admitted to Umzimkulu Hospital between 1976 and 1982, 378 (20.8%) received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in combination with drugs. The use of ECT at this hospital is described and comparisons are made between ECT and non-ECT patients using length of stay in hospital as the criterion variable. The percentage of patients receiving ECT dropped from 32% in 1976 to 6% in 1982, when it was discontinued. ECT patients tended to be slightly younger and stayed in hospital a few days more. There was a tendency for all groups patients, male v. female, first admissions v. previously admitted, to stay in hospital slightly longer if they received ECT. It is suggested that the use of ECT in addition to neuroleptics was probably a reflection of the severity of symptomatology.