Palmar Digital Sweating in Women Suffering from Depression

Abstract

Measurements of palmar digital sweating, by a plastic paint technique, were made on a group of 18 female patients suffering from depression. Readings were taken on three occasions within the compass of a week, while they were ill, the middle one of these while they were awaiting E.C.T., and on a further occasion when they were recovered. Sweating was significantly reduced during the illness, compared with the recovered values. On the E.C.T. occasion, the mean sweat count of the group was not different from the other depressed occasions, but the changes shown by individuals on the E.C.T. day were significantly correlated with their neuroticism score on the M.P.I., the more neurotic showing a decrease, the less neurotic an increase, in sweating.