Electrodermal Arousal of Chronically Ill Psychiatric Patients Undergoing Intensive Behavioral Treatment

Abstract

Severely regressed female psychiatric patients were tested repeatedly while undergoing an intensive behavioral treatment program. The study focuses on interrelations between some of the physiological and overt behavioral measures taken during the course of therapy. In the initial testing, severity of illness, which was evaluated from the patient''s behavior, was negatively related to basal skin conductance level, and to spontaneous and specific GSR [Galvanic skin response] activity. The longitudinal data collected over the year of therapy indicated that the patients became more responsive to the demands of their physical and social environment by the year''s end.