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Electrodermal Responding and Chlorpromazine Treatment in Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Stavroula Yannitsi*
Affiliation:
Ioannina University
Aris Liakos
Affiliation:
Ioannina University
Yannis Papakostas
Affiliation:
Ioannina University
*
Department of Psychiatry, Ioannina University, Medical School, Ioannina 453 32, Greece

Abstract

Skin conductance level (SCL) and skin conductance responses (SCR) to a random series of tones were measured in 25 drug-free schizophrenic patients, 15 male and 10 female, before and after standard chlorpromazine treatment. The DSM-III diagnostic criteria were used for selecting subjects. Psychopathology was measured with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. After treatment, patients showed an improved psychopathology and decreased SCL. There was a transition of patients to lower response categories: the number of responders decreased twice and the number of non-responders increased three times. Responders exhibited significantly higher SCL than non-responders and fast habituators were between the two groups.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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