Environmental noise level as a factor in the treatment of hospitalized schizophrenics

Two groups of physically healthy schizophrenic patients comprised of fifteen withdrawn and fifteen actives per group with comparable sex and age distribution were selected for this study. Both groups were placed first in a quiet environment in which the noise level was kept between 40-60 decibels, for three hours each morning for six weeks' duration. Therapeutic and psychological and clinical parameters were used to examine the effects of this particular environment. At the end of six weeks, they were switched to a noisy environment with the noise level averaging 80-90 decibels. Noisy environment increased the withdrawn groups' motor and verbal performance, improved perceptual organization, improved sleep pattern and hallucinations. As a result, overall improvement caused medication decrease. For the active group, in a noisy environment, performance decreased, conceptual disorganization, anxiety and restlessness heightened, resulting in an increase of 40% in their medication. The withdrawn group in the quiet environment showed considerable regression with heightened autism, seclusiveness, more conceptual disorganization and disturbed sleep patterns with increased hallucinations. The active group in the quiet environment showed improved performance, decreased anxiety, more conceptual organization, less hallucinations, better sleep patterns; motor and verbal productivity increased.