title: Electrodermal activity and social network as predictors of outcome of episodes in schizophrenia.
abstract: The predictive value of electrodermal activity and social network was examined among 48 consecutively admitted schizophrenic patients. The patients were followed from an initial admission, through hospital stay, discharge, follow-up (M = 31 months), and possible relapse. Outcome variables were the length of stay in the hospital at the key episode and time to relapse, defined as a marked exacerbation or return of schizophrenic symptoms requiring inpatient or expansion of outpatient treatment. Multivariate analyses showed that a psychosocial variable, the availability of attachment, was the only independent predictor of length of stay in the hospital. Age at admission was a strong predictor of time to relapse. Age interacted with both outcome and electrodermal activity, and young electrodermal nonresponders were found to have the shortest time to relapse. At the 1-year follow-up, a main relapse effect was found for patients with a low skin conductance level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hultman
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ohlund
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Wieselgren
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohman
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Ost
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012944:Social Support