Forced swim test

The text on this page is taken from an informal compilation of opinions of contributors to the online VOLE List. As such, they are not peer reviewed and may contain differences of opinion. Those wishing to contact the list may contact Adrian Smith.

Is the use of unescapable electric shocks to induce learned helplessness in rats still used in the UK as a precursor to testing anti-depressants in industry? If so, are there any published refinements to the technique to reduce, or set a limit on the suffering needed to achieve a reliable and validateable effect?

A 2012 paper on using forced swim tests to measure the effects of anti-depressants suggests variable times for the duration of the tests, although 15 minutes seems common (Slattery & Cryan: Using the rat forced swim test to assess anti-depressant like activity in rodents). Ten years on, is the model still considered reliable, is there an industry standard for duration that is commonly used (or is this dependent on other factors), and are there any recent references for refinements and best practice for conducting FSTs?

Professor Clare Stanford has vast experience on the validity of this model. See this recording of an interview with her and other researchers on the subject of Animal research, antidepressants and the forced swim test. See also:

• Fact Sheet on the forced swim test from the British Association for Psychopharmacology, Laboratory Animal Science Association, The Physiological Society and Understanding Animal Research.
• Guiding Principles for Behavioural Laboratory Animal Science