Electrodermal response configuration as a function of rated psychopathology in children

Electrodermally labile children of schizophrenic, manic-depressive, and normal parents were identified as either uniphasic or biphasic responders, in each of three phases of a psychophysiological experiment. Psychological disturbance ratings, based upon test protocols, were determined independently. Analysis of the relationship between electrodermal response configuration and rated psychological pathology showed that biphasic responders were evaluated as more disturbed than uniphasic responders. The results were interpreted within a framework provided by Edelberg's work on the information content of the electrodermal recovery limb, and were seen as relevant to notions regarding schizophrenic information processing. It was hypothesized that in this situation, uniphasic responding reflected an adaptive defense against stimuli perceived as potentially threatening, whereas biphasic responding indicated overprocessing and inappropriate goal orientation.