Classics in ECT: Unmodified ECT, LTE in Lancet, 1980

"Classics in ECT" brings you this 



Unmodified ECT.
Crammer J.Lancet. 1980 Mar 1;1(8166):486. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(80)91028-4.PMID: 6102212



The pdf is here.

The letter is here:

Here's an articulate defense of unmodified ECT. I'm old, but not quite old enough to have done, or seen, unmodified ECT. It goes without saying that modern ECT with anesthesia is preferable, but the argument here is that unmodified ECT is not as bad as often depicted, and sometimes (much more so in 1980 than now), for some patients might be (have been) justifiable, based on the benefit-risk calculation. Not to be discussed outside of our professional circles, but certainly something for the field to know about from the older literature, including this LTE.

(Please see also recent blog post about the author, John Crammer.)

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