The speed of remission in in-patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of major depression ( baseline MADRS score 20 ) was compared between 47 participants ( mean age 74.0 years , s.d. = 7.4 ) from an ECT randomised controlled trial ( RCT ) and 81 participants ( mean age 72.2 years , s.d. = 7.6 ) from a medication RCT ( nortriptyline v. venlafaxine ) .