Classics in ECT: Comparison of Amitriptyline and ECT: American Journal of Psychiatry, 1966

"Classics in ECT" brings you this study from the American Journal of Psychiatry, from 1966:


A controlled comparison of amitriptyline and electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of depression.

McDonald IM, Perkins M, Marjerrison G, Podilsky M.Am J Psychiatry. 1966 Jun;122(12):1427-31. doi: 10.1176/ajp.122.12.1427.PMID: 5326021




The pdf is here.

And from the text:








Here's a small Canadian study from the early days of antidepressant medications. ECT and amitriptyline are suggested to be equal, but note that the study was funded by the drug manufacturer. I bet the four patients who got simulated ECT in this study are never counted in tallies of patients who got sham ECT.

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