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Leicester ECT Trial: Results in Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

S. Brandon ,
P. Cowley ,
C. Mcdonald ,
P. Neville ,
R. Palmer  and
S. Wellstood-Eason
S. Brandon*
Affiliation:
University of Leicester, Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, P. O. Box 65, Leicester LE2 7LX
P. Cowley
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leicester
C. Mcdonald
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leicester
P. Neville
Affiliation:
Leicestershire Health Authority
R. Palmer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leicester
S. Wellstood-Eason
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leicester
*
∗Correspondence.
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Summary

As part of the Leicester electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) study, the role of ECT in schizophrenia was investigated in a double-blind trial. The Present State Examination criteria for schizophrenia were fulfilled by 22 patients, of whom 19 gave consent and entered the trial. Neuroleptic medication was restricted during the trial period. Patients were randomly allocated to eight real ECT or eight simulated ECT. At the end of the four-week trial period, patients receiving real ECT showed a significantly greater improvement when measured on the Montgomery-Asberg Schizophrenia Scale (MASS), the visual analogue global psychopathology scale, and the depression scale. The differences on the MASS and visual analogue global psychopathology scale were not due to improvement in depressive symptoms. The superiority of real ECT was not demonstrated at the 12- and 28- week follow-up, when treatment was not controlled.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 146 , Issue 2 , February 1985 , pp. 177 - 183
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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References

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