Psychophysiological prodromal signs of schizophrenic relapse: A pilot study

• Published in: Schizophrenia research Vol. 123; no. 1; pp. 64 - 67
• Main Authors: Dawson, Michael E, Schell, Anne M, Rissling, Anthony, Ventura, Joseph, Subotnik, Kenneth L, Nuechterlein, Keith H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.10.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Biophysics - methods; Diathesis-stress model; Electric Stimulation - methods; Electrodermal activity; Female; Galvanic Skin Response - physiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Pilot Projects; Prodromal signs; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychophysiology; Psychoses; Recurrence; Relapse; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - physiopathology; Schizophrenic Psychology; Skin conductance; Young Adult; Schizophrenia; Skin conductance; Electrodermal activity; Relapse; Prodromal signs; Diathesis-stress model; Human; Schizoaffective psychosis; Electrodermography; Prodrome; Stress; Psychosis; Clinical sign; Follow up study; Electrical conductance; Skin; Predictive factor; Psychophysiology
• ISSN: 0920-9964; 1573-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2010.07.029

Abstract Do physiological changes occur shortly prior to psychotic relapse in schizophrenia outpatients? We addressed this question in a group of schizophrenia outpatients by measuring changes in symptoms and changes in activation of the sympathetic nervous system, as indexed by changes in skin conductance level (SCL), on a biweekly basis for between one and two years. All six outpatients exhibited heightened SCL within two weeks prior to relapse or exacerbation, compared to SCL proceeding continued remission. These results shed light on the psychotic relapse process and are consistent with neural diathesis-stress models of schizophrenia.