Electrical Treatment of Anxiety States

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Abstract
During the past five years a number of reports have acclaimed Subconvulsive Electrostimulation as a therapeutic measure for the relief of states of anxiety and tension. In general, these accounts have proved unconvincing, since the authors have seldom provided either controls or even details of their results. The report of Hargrove, Bennett and Ford (1953) has been the only exception to both of these criticisms—and the only adverse account. The present investigation was therefore conducted as a “blind” trial in order to provide an unbiassed evaluation of the subject. The series comprised 100 patients, half of whom received the electrical treatment while the other half were subjected to a control procedure. Objective evidence was furnished by psychometric tests. An autonomic test of reputed prognostic significance, and a follow-up study, were also included.