Efficacy of ECT: a Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal Am J Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 1985 Mar 1

PMID 3882006

Citations 18

Authors

P G Janicak

J M Davis

R D Gibbons

S Ericksen

S Chang

P Gallagher

Affiliations

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Abstract

The authors analyzed several rigorously controlled studies that compared the efficacy of ECT with that of simulated ECT, placebo, and antidepressants. The data from these studies were combined statistically (with the Mantel-Haenszel method for the combination of fourfold tables), showing ECT's clear superiority over all these other forms of treatment for severe depression. The authors similarly analyzed the data from several studies comparing the efficacy of unilateral nondominant ECT with that of bilateral ECT and found no significant difference in their efficacy.

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