Madam, - The chairman of the Irish College of Psychiatrists, Dr Consilia Walsh, shows a disappointing disregard for science for someone in such an esteemed position.
When Dr Walsh claims (Opinion Analysis, July 7th) that 70 per cent of people receiving shock therapy show "significant clinical benefits", she is either unaware of, or chooses not to mention, two crucial facts. Firstly, there are no studies showing that these gains last more than three weeks and many studies showing that people who do not receive the treatment do better in the long term. Secondly, a properly designed efficacy study compares a treatment with a placebo - in this case the administration of the general anaesthetic without the electric shock. Such studies repeatedly find little, or more often no, difference between shock therapy and this simulated shock therapy.
Dr Walsh also minimises the brain damage and memory loss involved. Studies have found memory dysfunction 10 and 15 years later. Even the American Psychiatric Association acknowledges that these effects can be long-lasting. This is not surprising, given that brain cells are designed to deal with a tiny fraction of one volt and shock therapy involves between 100 and 150 volts.
Finally, there is no scientific evidence whatsoever that shock therapy saves lives and solid evidence that thousands have died - usually via cardiovascular failure - as a result of shock therapy. - Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN READ,
Psychology Department,
University of Auckland,
New Zealand.