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Electrodermal activity and therapeutic response to neuroleptic treatment in chronic schizophrenic in-patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Sid J. Schneider
Sid J. Schneider*
Affiliation:
Veterans Administration Hospital, Montrose, New York, USA
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr S. J. Schneider, Psychology Service (116B), Veterans Administration Hospital, Montrose, NY 10548, USA.
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Synopsis

Electrodermal measures, psychiatric ratings (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impressions) and several Wechsler subtest scores were obtained for 26 hospitalized chronic schizophrenics during drug ‘washout’. The psychiatric ratings and Wechsler scores were obtained again after 6 months' treatment with thiothixene or thioridazine. Results revealed that those patients who displayed therapeutic benefit from the neuroleptic treatment displayed greater pre-treatment electrodermal activity and higher skin conductance levels, compared with schizophrenics who did not benefit. No effect for laterality was noted.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , August 1982 , pp. 607 - 613
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

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