The value of subconvulsive electrostimulation in the treatment of some emotional disorders.

1. A total of 120 patients have been treated for anxiety and depression with subconvulsive electrostimulation combined with psychotherapy, with electrostimulation alone or with psychotherapy alone. 2. Less than one-fifth of the patients treated with psychotherapy alone for the symptom of anxiety failed to improve or recover, as compared with almost two-thirds of those treated by the combined method. The group on electrostimulation alone, although too small for comparison, indicated a trend toward poorer results than those observed with the other 2 methods. The average time required for social recovery by any method is roughly similar. 3. In depressions 11 of 15 patients treated by psychotherapy improved or recovered, whereas by the combined method only 5 of 15 made comparable gains. The smaller group treated with electrostimulation indicated poorer results than with the combined treatment. The duration of treatment in each method is roughly similar. 4. The use of electrostimulation combined with psychothe...