A biometric evaluation of the somatotherapies in schizophrenia.

Abstract

"The purpose of this study is to examine the available and analyzable data on the outcome of the shock therapies and psychosurgery in order to get an estimate of the effectiveness of these therapies in the treatment of schiozphrenia, as it has been reported in the literature." In spite of the several limitations of these studies the following facts were revealed: in terms of immediate outcome, there is a distinct advantage for the treated groups vs. the untreated ones; in terms of long-range recovery the treated have generally not shown greater improvement over the untreated; specific therapies work better with patients whose illness is of short duration; and with better prognostic indicators the results of specific therapies would excel the outcome of the nonspecific therapies. 85-item bibliography.