DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM Regressive Shock Therapy In Schizophrenia

electro-convulsive therapy of mentalIn t.disorders it is not uncommon 0 gIVe a more ve course than the customary one of three treatments weekly. Such rocedure has been advocated, particularly P acute manic states, by Kalinowsky and. 1 Kino and Thorpe,2 and more recently depressive and parancid reactions by aleu".u~.3 Usually one to three treatments given daily, with a rapid tapering off a slower rate of administration. In recent years, still more intensive proce have been advocated. According to Bini suggested the repetition of many times a day for certain naming the method "annihilation." 1948, Kennedy and Anche15 described un the term "Regressive electric-shock " an method for intractable schizo psychoses. Their object was to give electrically induced convulsions with suffi cient frequency to produce a state of deep regression. They started by inducing 2 to 4 grand mal seizures daily until the desir~d degree of regression was reached. TheIr shortest course consisted of 11 seizures and their longest 50, but generally 20 to 30 were given. They considered that a patient had regressed sufficiently when he wet and soiled himself or acted and talked like a 4 year old child. Their patients were confused and could not take care of their physical needs; they lost weight and frequently had to be spoonfed. The period of posttreatment con fusion lasted for about 10 to 14 days.. Kennedy and Anchel " reported the results of this form of treatment in 24 patients who had proved refractory to other forms of shock therapy. Eight of their patients were able to leave the hospital, 6 were described in partial remission but still in the hos.pital because of a lack of suitable facilities From the Clinical services of the \Vorcester State <Hospital. Read at a meeting of the Massachusett