Prediction of Clinical Response to ECT

Abstract

Because of the empirical nature of the treatment procedure, many investigators have sought predictors of clinical response to ECT (Abrams, 1972). Three studies (Hobson, 1953; Carney et al., 1965; and Mendels, 1967) provide well-defined methods for calculating an index for prediction of response to ECT. Each assigns individual weights to specific features of the clinical state and the history of the illness, as determined during a pre-treatment interview. The predictive accuracy reported for these indices ranges from 79–87 per cent. Three attempts have been made to replicate Hobson's (1953) results—two were successful (Roberts, 1959; and Mendels, 1965), and one was not (Hamilton and White, 1960). We have found no reports attempting to test the prognostic accuracy of the indices of Carney et al. (1965) or Mendels (1967).