The 5 Jun 1961 DV announced Darryl F. Zanuck Productions’ purchase of motion picture rights for the 1961 novel by Winfred Van Atta. Zanuck’s son, Richard, was to produce. According to the 10 Aug 1961 DV, director Alfred Hitchcock was reportedly interested in collaborating on the project with the elder Zanuck. A news item in the 30 Jun 1961 DV stated that writer Wyatt Cooper was adapting the novel. Nearly a year later, the assignment went to Bernard Wolfe, as reported in the 19 Jun 1962 issue, and finally to screenwriter Sydney Boehm. Aaron Rosenberg had since taken over as producer. Boehm told the 8 Sep 1963 NYT that his screenplay was a “considerable rewrite” of the source novel, which he described as “unbelievable.” While Boehm admitted that his version also lacked credibility, he claimed it had better commercial prospects. The writer made several visits to mental hospitals, including two overnight stays in patient wards, as part of his research.
       A news brief in the 1 Mar 1963 DV stated that Anthony Perkins was a candidate for a lead role, as were Bette Davis and Susan Hayward, according to the 3 Jun 1963 and 27 Jun 1963 issues of DV, respectively. Meanwhile, the 26 Jun 1963 LAT indicated that Rosenberg was considering a wide array of major actresses, including Barbara Stanwyck and Katharine Hepburn. The role eventually went to Lauren Bacall.
       The 21 Jul 1963 NYT noted similarities in plot and title between Van Atta’s novel and the upcoming release, Shock Corridor (1963, see entry), hinting that the author might have been plagiarized. Five weeks later, the 28 Aug 1963 DV reported that the advertising campaign for another new release, The Caretakers (1963, see entry), which featured the slogan, “The screen takes a shock treatment,” prompted Rosenberg to briefly contemplate a new title for his production.
       Principal photography began 22 Aug 1963, according to that day’s DV. Prior to filming, the 21 Aug 1963 DV stated that cast members Carol Lynley and Roddy McDowall had presented director Denis Sanders with a strait jacket. The 6 Sep 1963 edition noted that Sanders hired 110 background actors for that day’s filming. Other castings included Edric Connor (26 Jul 1963 DV); restaurateur Mike Romanoff (29 Aug 1963 LAT); veteran actor Stuart Holmes, after whom star Stuart Whitman was reportedly named (29 Sep 1963 LAT); Paul Langton and John Dennis (23 Aug 1963 DV); Maureen Jantzen, Arnold Lupin, Art Salter, George Allen, Jayni Mann, Eunice Pollis, Ric Tobin, and Rusty Burrell (26 Aug 1963 DV); Hugh Lawrence, Barton Heyman, Paul Lukather, Ed Deemer, and Geraldine Wall (9 Sep 1963 DV); Sheila Rogers (12 Sep 1963 DV); Simon Scott (17 Sep 1963 DV); William Douglas, son of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas (19 Sep 1963 DV); Red West (20 Sep 1963 DV); John Gilmore (24 Sep 1963 DV); Olan Soule (26 Sep 1963 DV); and Jay Jostyn (7 Oct 1963 DV). The 22 Jul 1963 DV listed Hal Herman as second assistant director. A news item in the 24 Sep 1963 issue stated that the executive corridor of Twentieth Century-Fox Studios in Los Angeles, CA, was used as the “insane asylum” hallway in the picture. An item in the 3 Oct 1963 DV noted that actor Ossie Davis had recently completed his role. Months later, the 19 Feb 1964 issue announced a “15-point shock exploitation and merchandising campaign” to promote the film.
       Shock Treatment opened 19 Feb 1964 in Los Angeles, and 22 Jul 1964 in New York City to negative reviews, with the 23 Jul 1964 NYT criticizing “the general tone of bland sensationalism.”