Journal of Mental Science (1959) 105: 863-868. doi: 10.1192/bjp.105.440.863
© 1959 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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The Effect of Electro-Convulsive Therapy on Initiative

G. H. Collins, M.D., D.P.M., Deputy Medical Superintendent and M. Bassett, Dip. Soc. Sci., Psychologist

Barnwood House, Gloucester

ABSTRACT

In an attempt to alleviate the inactivity of senility, a selected group was treated with electro-convulsive therapy and measured before and afterwards for the amount of initiative shown and for the degree of clinical improvement. Special scales were constructed so as to make the measurements objective.

A small degree of clinical improvement was shown clearly in some cases but not in all. The simply senile cases responded better than the organic or presenile.

The results were considered from the cybernetic point of view to see if they would throw light on how E.C.T. acts. The evidence suggests that it acts on some specific mechanism rather than as a generalized activator of the whole cortex.