15th Annual MeetingEuropean Forum for ECT (EFFECT)
University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, campus Kortenberg Leuvensesteenweg 517 3070 Kortenberg (Belgium) Phone-central: 0032 (0)2 758 0511
ECT: from science to clinical practice
Save The Date:
The next meeting of the European Forum for ECT (EFFECT) will take place in the beautiful city of Bordeaux in the South of France, on Friday and Saturday, 18-19 September 2026. You can enter these dates in your diaries. We will inform you when the registration opens.
Join us for the 15th Annual Meeting of the European Forum for ECT (EFFECT) on October 3–4, 2025,
at the University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Campus Kortenberg.
This event returns to the birthplace of EFFECT, established in 2006 at this very location.
Venue & Practical Information
Conference Venue
EFFECT 2026 – European Forum for ECT and Interventional Psychiatry
Centre Broca Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bordeaux Neurocampus Campus Carreire 146 Rue Léo Saignat
33076 Bordeaux Cedex France
The conference will take place at the Centre Broca Nouvelle-Aquitaine, located within Bordeaux Neurocampus, one of Europe’s leading neuroscience and brain research campuses. The venue offers modern conference facilities in a unique scientific environment bringing together clinicians, neuroscientists, and researchers from multiple disciplines.
Conference Dates
Friday 18 September 2026 Saturday 19 September 2026
Registration will open from 08:00 on Friday morning.
How to Reach the Venue
By Air
Bordeaux–Mérignac International Airport (BOD) is located approximately 10 km from the conference venue.
The venue can be reached directly from the airport via Tram A, with a journey time of approximately 20–30 minutes.
By Train
Bordeaux Saint-Jean Railway Station provides direct high-speed train (TGV) connections to:
· Paris
· Toulouse
· Lyon
· Lille
· Strasbourg
· Brussels
· Madrid (via connections)
From Bordeaux Saint-Jean Station, take Tram A towards Mérignac Airport and exit at Saint-Augustin station. The venue is approximately an 8-minute walk from the tram stop.
By Tram
Tram Line A
Nearest stations:
· Saint-Augustin
· François Mitterrand
The Centre Broca Nouvelle-Aquitaine is located within walking distance of both stations.
By Bus
Nearby bus stops include:
· Campus Carreire (Lines 24 and 55)
· Bordeaux Carreire (Lines 8, 20, 73 and 80)
By Taxi
For taxi drop-off, the closest campus entrances are:
· 38 Rue Albert Marquet
· 14 Rue Eugène Jacquet
· 125 Rue Bethmann
Please inform the driver that the destination is Centre Broca Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Bordeaux Neurocampus.
By Car
Parking is available on the Bordeaux Neurocampus site.
Vehicle access:
125 Rue Bethmann Parking area: P1
Participants are advised to arrive early as parking availability may be limited during working hours.
Accommodation
Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation.
A wide range of hotels is available in Bordeaux city centre and around the Saint-Augustin and Pellegrin districts, offering easy access to the venue via public transportation.
Recommended areas:
· Bordeaux City Centre
· Saint-Augustin
· Mériadeck
· Gambetta
· Saint-Pierre Historic District
Most hotels in these districts are within 15–25 minutes of the venue by tram.
Registration
Registration includes:
· Access to all scientific sessions
· Coffee breaks
· Lunches during the conference
· Certificate of attendance
Registration details and online booking will be available through the EFFECT website.
Language
The official language of the conference is English.
No simultaneous translation will be provided.
Accessibility
The Centre Broca Nouvelle-Aquitaine is fully accessible to participants with reduced mobility. Elevators and accessible facilities are available throughout the building.
Discover Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage city renowned for its architecture, gastronomy, wine culture, and vibrant scientific community. Participants are encouraged to explore the historic city centre, the Garonne riverfront, and the surrounding vineyards during their stay.
We look forward to welcoming you to Bordeaux for EFFECT 2026.
Save the date !
From Science to Clinical Practice
15th Annual Meeting of EFFECT, Leuven (Belgium) - October 3-4, 2025
The 15th Annual Meeting of the European Forum for ECT (EFFECT) will take
place on Friday, October 3, and Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the
University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Kortenberg campus.
With this conference, we return to the location where EFFECT was founded
in 2006.
The meeting will feature clinical and scientific presentations on ECT,
along with engaging discussions with international experts.
Abstracts or suggestions for presentations can be send to
e.verwijk@uva.nl and pascal.sienaert@upckuleuven.be before April 30.
Hope to meet you soon!
Gabor Gazdag, George Kirov, Declan McLoughlin, Indira Tendolkar, Esmee
Verwijk, and Pascal Sienaert
0
Patients
Receive ECT annually
Receive ECT annually
0
Annual meetings
EFFECT organized 11 annual meetings
EFFECT organized 11 annual meetings
0
Papers published
About ECT in 2016
About ECT in 2016
0
Percent succes
More than 70% of severely depressed patients respond to ECT
More than 70% of severely depressed patients respond to ECT
LASTEST NEWS
EFFECT continuously on the move
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RCPsych Annual ECT and Neuromodulation Conference 2023
RCPsych Annual ECT and Neuromodulation Conference 2023 in London on November 30 and December 1st. Here’s the meeting link: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/events/conferences/detail/2023/11/30/default-calendar/annual-ect-and-neuromodulation-conference-2023
THE STORY OF EFFECT
EFFECT continuously on the move
ECT is the most efficacious biological treatment for the most severe psychiatric disorders. In several European countries, however, psychiatrists and patients still struggle with the stigmatzing negative image of ECT. To ensure that patients and service users across Europe have access to safe and effective ECT when appropriate, a European Forum for ECT was founded.
In November 2005 Björn Wahlund (SE), Pascal Sienaert (BE) and King Han Kho (NL) decided to organize the EFFECT founding meeting. Several ECT psychiatrists across Europe were invited to join this meeting which took place in Leuven, Belgium, from 3-5 February 2006.
On February 4, 2006, The European Forum for ECT was inaugurated at the University Psychiatric Center – KU Leuven, campus Kortenberg in Belgium. An executive board was elected with Tom G. Bolwig (DK) as President, Björn Wahlund (SE) as Chairman, King Han Kho (NL) as Secretary, and Pascal Sienaert (BE) as Treasurer. Since then, EFFECT brought together clinicians and researchers to improve the practice of ECT, and to reduce its stigma .
THE GOALS OF EFFECT
European Forum for Electroconvulsive Therapy
Effect aims to combat the stigma associated with ECT
EDUCATE
Effect aims to educate mental health and other professionals about ECT and its use
PROMOTE
Effect aims to promote ECT research and to inform the general public about ECT and its use.
HIGH STANDARD
Effect aims to work towards a high standard of ECT practice across Europe and to develop guidelines
BOARD
TOM BOLWIG (DK) president
PASCAL SIENAERT (BE) chair
GABOR GAZDAG (HU) secretary
ESMÉE VERWIJK (NL) treasurer
DECLAN MCLOUGHLIN (IE) member
INDIRA TENDOLKAR (NL) member
GEORGE KIROV (UK) member
RICHARD BRAITHWAITE (UK) member
CHRISTOPHE DAUDET (FR) member
OLIVIA DEAN (UK) member
NELE VAN DE VELDE (BE) member
ALEXANDER SARTORIUS (GE) member
JASMIEN OBBELS (BE) member
FABIO SAMBATARO (IT) member
AIDA DE ARRIBA ARNAU (SP) member
KAIJA JARVENTAUSTA (FL) co-opted member
SEND MESSAGE
CONTACT US
info@theeffect.eu
leuvensesteenweg 517 3070 Kortenberg
(belgium)