title: Electrodermal activity as a predictor of social functioning in female schizophrenics.
abstract: Twenty-nine female schizophrenics and 20 female controls were presented with a series of moderately intense tones in a standard orienting habituation paradigm while skin conductance was monitored. Premorbid adjustment and symptoms were also rated, and the schizophrenics were observed 2 years later. The total schizophrenic group was divided into a good-outcome group and a poor-outcome group. Good social functioning outcome required both self-supporting ability in the job market and at least a minimal social life. The poor-outcome group had a significantly higher skin-conductance level and frequency of spontaneous skin-conductance fluctuations than the control group, whereas the few patients with good outcome did not differ from controls. These results are contrary to previous findings with a group of schizophrenic men in which poor social functioning was associated with low electrodermal activity. This discrepancy is discussed in terms of sex differences in schizophrenic disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Wieselgren
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ohlund
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Lindström
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohman
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012951:Socialization