Electric convulsion therapy in depression: A double-blind controlled trial

The therapeutic effect of simulated and real bilateral electric convulsion therapy was examined in a double-blind, randomised trial on 22 patients with primary depressive illness. Each treatment was given twice weekly for three weeks and the results assessed by the psychiatrist using a visual analogue rating scale, nurses using a nine-point rating scale, and the patients themselves using the Beck Depression Inventory. With all three methods of assessment patients given the real treatment substantially improved (p <0-001), whereas those given simulated treatment showed little change. Three weeks after substituting real treatment for simulated, however, these patients were also significantly improved (psychiatrist‘s rating p <0.001; nurses' rating p <0.005; Beck inventory p< 0.005). These findings confirm the value of electric convulsion therapy in severe depressive illness and strongly suggest that the convulsion is important for the therapeutic effect. © 1981, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.