Prediction of Clinical Response to ECT
RICHARD ABRAMS M.D.1,
MAX FINK M.D.2, and
STANLEY FELDSTEIN Ph.D.3
1 Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, New York Medical College, 5 East 102 Street, New York, N.Y. 10029, U.S.A.
2 Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, New York Medical College, 5 East 102 Street, New York, N.Y. 10029, U.S.A.
3 Professor of Psychology and Associate Chairman, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 5401 Wilkens Ave., Baltimore, Md. 21228, U.S.A.
Seventy-six depressed patients in hospital who received unilateral or bilateral ECT were examined prior to treatment for completion of a depression rating scale; the prognostic indices of Hobson, Carney et al., and Mendels; and a group of additional clinical and historical features. None of the predictive indices, nor any of the 22 illness features were associated with clinical outcome as measured by a depression scale score obtained one day after 4-6 ECT. Methodological differences from previous studies are discussed and account in part for the failure of replication.
Submitted on March 29, 1972
