Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T22:24:46.538Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of E.C.T. Upon Psychomotor Speed and the “Distraction Effect” in Depressed Psychiatric Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2018

M. B. Shapiro ,
D. Campbell ,
A. Harris  and
J. P. Dewsbery
M. B. Shapiro
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Maudsley Hospital, London
D. Campbell
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
A. Harris
Affiliation:
Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals, London
J. P. Dewsbery
Affiliation:
Maudsley Hospital, London
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The investigation described in this paper had two aims. The first of these was to determine the effects of E.C.T. on psychomotor slowness. As has been reported elsewhere (Shapiro and Nelson, 1955), psychiatric patients of the major diagnostic categories have been found to be slower than normal subjects on psychomotor tests. In addition it has been found that such slowness is correlated with subjective estimates by psychiatrists of degree of illness. As E.C.T. is given in order to improve the clinical condition of depressed patients, it was of interest to ascertain the effect of E.C.T. upon slowness.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Mental Science , Volume 104 , Issue 436 , July 1958 , pp. 681 - 695
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1958 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Babcock, H., and Levy, L., Examination for the measurement of efficiency of mental functioning, 1940. Chicago: Stoelting.Google Scholar
Callagan, J. E., The effect of electro-convulsive therapy on the test performance of hospitalized depressed patients, 1952. Ph.D. Thesis, University of London.Google Scholar
Campbell, D., A study of some sensory motor functions in psychiatric patients, 1957. Ph.D. Thesis, University of London.Google Scholar
Eysenck, S., A dimensional analysis of mental abnormality, 1955. Ph.D. Thesis, University of London.Google Scholar
Foulds, G. A., “Temperamental differences in maze performance. II. The effect of distraction and of electroconvulsive therapy on psychomotor retardation”, Brit. J. Psychol., 1952, 43, 33–41.Google Scholar
Hetherington, R., “The effects of E.C.T. on the efficiency and retentivity of depressed patients”, Brit. J. med. Psychol., 1956, 29, 258–269.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hildreth, H. M., “A battery of feeling and attitude scales for clinical use”, J. clin. Psychol., 1946, 2, 214–221.3.0.CO;2-J>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Janis, I. L., and Astrachan, M., “The effects of electroconvulsive treatments on memory efficiency”, J. abn. soc. Psychol., 1951, 46, 501–511.Google Scholar
Kessell, R., An investigation into some of the factors affecting speed of response in psychiatric patients with special reference to distraction, 1955. Ph.D. Thesis, University of London.Google Scholar
Lewis, A. J., “Melancholia: A clinical survey of depressive states”, J. Ment Sci., 1934, 80, 1–102.Google Scholar
Sandler, J., “A test of the significance of the differences between the means of correlated measures, based on a simplification of students' t”, Brit. J. Psychol., 1955, 46, 225–226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scherer, I. W., “The effect of brief stimulus electro-convulsive therapy upon psychological test performance”, J. consult. Psychol., 1951, 15, 430–434.Google Scholar
Shapiro, M. B., and Nelson, E. H., “An investigation of the nature of cognitive impairment in co-operative psychiatric patients”. Brit. J. med. Psychol., 1955, 28, 239–256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
U.S. Employment Service, General Aptitude Test Battery, 1947. Washington, D.C.: Department of Labor.Google Scholar
Yates, A. J., An experimental study of the block design rotation test with special reference to brain damage, 1954. Ph.D. Thesis, University of London.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.