Steinfeld reports on ten cases of schizophrenia of long duration which had been unsuccessfully treated by various methods. The author then applied deep shock therapy followed by psychotherapy and achieved rather impressive

therapeutic results. He sees the effectiveness of shock therapy as based on fulfilment of regressive wishes and desires of the patient, rather than on unconscious punishment or 'death and rebirth'. The artificially induced regression goes 'beyond the point of the spontaneous regressive tendencies'.

The subsequent psychotherapy varied according to the nature of the cases. Psychoanalysis was applied only in a 'rather small group'. In other cases, where the adjustment had been rather poor even before the psychosis, 'further intrusion into the life problems might precipitate another breakdown'. It is advantageous if the psychotherapy is applied by the same physician who admintisered the preceding shock therapy.