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Cognitive Functioning and Degree of Psychosis in Schizophrenics given many Electroconvulsive Treatments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Donald I. Templer
Affiliation:
Western State Hospital, Hopkinsville, Kentucky 42246, U.S.A.
Carol F. Ruff
Affiliation:
Western State Hospital, Hopkinsville, Kentucky 42246, U.S.A.
Gloria Armstrong
Affiliation:
Western State Hospital, Hopkinsville, Kentucky 42246, U.S.A.

Extract

Goldman, Gomer, and Templer (2) found that the Bender-Gestalt and Benton Visual Retention Test performances of male chronic schizophrenic in-patients with a history of 50 or more electroconvulsive treatments (ECT) were significantly inferior to those of control patients matched for age, level of education, and race. However, the authors maintained that it cannot be inferred with certainty that ECT causes permanent brain damage since it is possible that schizophrenic patients more likely to receive ECT are those whose psychosis is more severe. It has been reported that patients with the so-called functional psychiatric disorders tend to do poorly on tests of organicity (5).

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1973 

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References

1 Benton, A. L. (1963). The Benton Visual Retention Test: Clinical and Experimental Applications. New York: Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
2 Goldman, H., Gomer, F. E., and Templer, D. I. (1972). ‘Long-term effects of electroconvulsive therapy upon memory and perceptual-motor performance.’ J. clin. Psychol., 28, 32–4.3.0.CO;2-E>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3 Pascal, G. R., and Suttell, B. J. (1951). The Bender-Gestalt Test. New York: Paul B. Hoeber.Google Scholar
4 Watson, C. G. (1971). ‘An MMPI scale to separate brain-damaged from schizophrenic men.’ J. consult, din. Psychol., 36, 121–5.Google Scholar
5 Yates, A.J. (1954). ‘The validity of some psychological tests of brain damage.’ Psychol. Bull., 51, 359–79.Google Scholar
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