The British Journal of Psychiatry 146: 177-183 (1985)
© 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Leicester ECT trial: results in schizophrenia
S Brandon, P Cowley, C McDonald, P Neville, R Palmer and S Wellstood-Eason
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.