title: The sham ECT literature: implications for consent to ECT.
abstract: The author reviewed the placebo-controlled literature on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depression. No study demonstrated a significant difference between real and placebo (sham) ECT at 1 month posttreatment. Many studies failed to find a difference between real and sham ECT even during the period of treatment. Claims in textbooks and review articles that ECT is effective are not consistent with the published data. A large, properly designed study of real versus sham ECT should be undertaken. In the absence of such a study, consent forms for ECT should include statements that there is no controlled evidence demonstrating any benefit from ECT at 1 month posttreatment. Consent forms should also state that real ECT is only marginally more effective than placebo.
authors.affiliation: Colin A. Ross Institute for Psychological Trauma, 1701 Gateway, Suite 349, Richardson, TX 75080, USA.
authors.forename: Colin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D032962:Consent Forms; D035061:Control Groups; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D015990:Placebo Effect; D010919:Placebos; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos