Electrodermal and heart-rate measurements in chronic and partially remitted schizophrenic patients

Electrodermal activity and heart-rate were recorded in the laboratory from partially remitted schizophrenic patients living in the community, chronic schizophrenic inpatients and normal controls. Althoug all patients had faster heart-rates, no consistent electrodermal differences between patient groups and normals were evident, nor was there a bimodal distribution of responding within the patient group. Laboratory recordings did not reflect differences in community patients tested in their homes and associated with environmental and social factors. This emphasized the limitations of laboratory testing in investigating a disorder such as schizophrenia whose course may be markedly influenced by environmental and social factors.