THE EFFECTS OF ELECTRIC CONVULSIVE THERAPY ON CERTAIN PERSONALITY TRAITS IN PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS

Abstract

Personality studies were conducted on a group of 75 psychiatric patients classified as psychoneurosis, schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis and involutional psychosis, before and after a course of electric convulsive therapy. The personality tests were made by means of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and the Rorschach perceptanalysis. The extent to which these tests may be utilized for evaluating the effects of electric shock therapy upon the personality structure are discussed. The diagnostic and prognostic value of these examinations are commented upon.