A controlled comparative trial of unilateral and bilateral sinusoidal and pulse E.C.T. in endogenous depression.

Sixty-six depressed patients who achieved a score of 6 or more on the Newcastle Scale were randomly allocated to 3 different modes of E.C.T.--unilateral sinusoidal, bilateral sinusoidal and pulse. Outcome, one month after completition of 6 or more E.C.T., was assessed by mean fall in Hamilton's score. Overall, there was a highly significant improvement but among the 3 groups there were no significant differences, findings not accounted for by differences in mean age, numbers of E.C.T. given or mean initial Hamilton's score among the groups. The practical and theoretical implications of the results were discussed. There seems little justification for the continued use of bilateral sinusoidal E.C.T. as opposed to other methods.