A BOGUS psychiatrist who worked with hundreds of Scots patients is thought to have sent some for unnecessary electroshock therapy, according to Scotland's chief medical officer.
Dr Catherine Calderwood warned other patients could have been detained under the Mental Health Act or "groomed" in order for Zholia Alemi to gain access to their finances.
Alemi, who had worked in the NHS for 22 years but had no qualifications, was jailed for five years in October for defrauding patients.
She worked across the UK, but spent time at six Scottish health boards which have been asked to check the records on patients she treated.
Calderwood wrote to the health boards saying she thinks the review will help to identify people affected by Alemi's actions.
The Herald newspaper obtained the letter, in which Calderwood warns: "She is known to have befriended and 'groomed' vulnerable people that she came into contact with through working as a psychiatrist, with the ultimate aim of accessing their financial affairs."
NHS Ayrshire and Arran confirmed that Alemi treated 395 adults over 18 months from 2007, of which she detained 24 under the Mental Health Act.
The board's medical director Dr Alison Graham said: "We would like to apologise for any distress this situation may have caused. If patients were treated by this individual and have concerns, we would advise them to contact our mental health services team."
Alemi worked at NHS Tayside, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Argyll and Clyde, NHS Borders, NHS Highland and NHS Grampian.
According to the General Medical Council (GMC), she was able to join the UK's medical register under a section of the Medical Act which has not been in force since 2003.
The GMC said checks were now more "rigorous".
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