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A Controlled Study of Polarization in Depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

E. Arfai ,
G. Theano ,
J. D. Montagu  and
A. A. Robin
E. Arfai
Affiliation:
Runwell Hospital, Nr. Wickford, Essex
G. Theano
Affiliation:
Runwell Hospital, Nr. Wickford, Essex
J. D. Montagu
Affiliation:
Runwell Hospital, Nr. Wickford, Essex
A. A. Robin
Affiliation:
Runwell Hospital, Nr. Wickford, Essex
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Extract

In 1964 Lippold and Redfearn described the mental changes induced by the passage of small positive and negative polarizing Currents through the human brain in volunteer patients. They further reported the clinical effects of polarizing the brain in 29 patients with long standing depression (Redfearn et al., 1964), and they also conducted a controlled trial of polarization in depressive illness (Costain et al., 1964). When the head was positive to the leg, an elevation of mood was said to follow, while the reverse was the case with a negative head electrode. In the uncontrolled trial of long standing depressives, 13 were said to show clinical improvement of the 24 who were considered to be adequately treated. In the controlled trial a significant therapeutic effect was rated by both doctors and nurses. Sheffield and Mowbray (1968), using normal human subjects, failed to validate the mood changes said to follow positive and negative polarization. Lifshitz and Harper (1968) found no appreciable effect of polarization in five chronic male schizophrenic patients studied over 14 weeks. The following study was designed to replicate the double blind trial on depressed patients.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 116 , Issue 533 , April 1970 , pp. 433 - 434
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1970 

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References

Costain, R., Redfearn, J. W. T., and Lippold, O. C. J. (1964). ‘A controlled trial of the therapeutic effects of polarization of the brain in depressive illness.’ Brit., J. Psychiat., 110, 786–99.Google Scholar
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Lifshitz, K., and Harper, P. (1968). ‘A trial of transcranial polarization in chronic schizophrenics.’ Brit. J, Psychiat., 114, 635–7.Google Scholar
Lippold, O. G. J., and Redfearn, J. W. T. (1964). ‘Mental changes resulting from the passage of small direct currents through the human brain.’ Brit. J. Psychiat., 110, 768–72.Google Scholar
Redfearn, J. W. T., Lippold, O. G. J., and Costain, R. (1964). ‘A preliminary account of the clinical effects of polarizing the brain in certain psychiatric disorders.’ Brit. J. Psychiat., 110, 773–85.Google Scholar
Sheffield, L. J., and Mowbray, R. M. (1968). ‘The effects of polarization on normal subjects.’ Brit. J. Psychiat., 114, 225–32.Google Scholar
Siegel, S. (1956). Non-parametric Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences, London : McGraw Hill.Google Scholar
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