Electrodermal activity and clinical status in chronic schizophrenia.

The present study investigated the association between electrodermal nonresponsiveness and clinical state in schizophrenia. Sixty-three patients with a DSM-III diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia served as subjects. Clinical status was assessed using multiple measures, including age of onset, symptom severity, illness duration, hospitalization history, global functioning, and occupational functioning. Electrodermal hypoactivity was found to be associated with poorer functioning and a more severe form of illness. In addition, hyporesponsive patients displayed more conceptual disorganization and alogia.