Electrodermal responsiveness, clinical variables, and brain imaging in male chronic schizophrenics

We investigated the variables related to electrodermal nonresponsiveness in male chronic schizophrenics. In a comparison of 31 male chronic schizophrenics and 20 male normal controls, the schizophrenics showed a much higher incidence of nonresponders in phasic electrodermal responsiveness, and fewer spontaneous fluctuations (SFs) in tonic electrodermal activity. Among the schizophrenics, nonresponders showed fewer SFs and lower tonic skin conductance level (SCL). They also had more neuropsychological abnormalities of cognitive function and more severe symptoms (both positive and negative). Furthermore, patients with structural abnormality of the brain revealed by computerized tomographic measurements (increased ventricular brain ratio and maximum diameter of third ventricle) were overrepresented among electrodermal nonresponding schizophrenics. These findings suggest that electrodermal nonresponsiveness in chronic schizophrenic illness might be considered as a functional index associated with greater neuropsychological abnormalities and more severe symptoms.