Clinical Report on a New Therapeutic Technique: Polarization

Polarization is the passage of small polarizing currents through the brain. Treatment by this method was described by Lippold Redfearn and Costain in the British Journal of Psychiatry, (1 , 2, 3). Their reports seem to indicate that this simple method of treatment might be as effective as E .C .T . in some patients, without disturbance of memory, loss of consciousness or the necessity to put the patient to sleep. It was decided to give this form of treatment a clinical trial at the Saskatchewan Hospital, Weyburn. The apparatus used consists of two 22i volt miniature dry batteries enclosed in a small box containing resistors and transistors to maintain a constant flow of current regulated between 100 and 500 micro-amperes. Two pairs of small silver electrodes covered with saline soaked gauze and electrode jelly are placed on the skin, one pair on the forehead just over the inner aspect of the eyes, and one pair on the inner aspect of the right thigh above the knee. The apparatus was constructed at this hospital according to plans furnished by Mr. F . D . Fielder of Ewgland.t For treatment of depressed patients the positive electrodes were placed on the forehead and the negative ones on the thigh. For 'levelling off' of an elevated mood the reverse position of electrodes was used. Treatments lasted from one to as long as eight hours, the usual treatment lasting one hour and being given every other day, until the desired results were obtained. Patients could be ambulatory during treatment, if desired. Medications were prescribed ad lib by the physician, and no special efforts were made to obviate the effects