ELECTRODERMAL ACTIVITY AND OBSTETRIC COMPLICATIONS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

The pregnancy and birth records of 79 schizophrenic patients, from who m adult electrodermal data were available, were systematically evaluat ed for obstetric complications using 34 criteria of nonoptimality in p regnancy, delivery, and postpartum periods. Patients with many obstetr ic complications had lower levels of electrodermal activity. For frequ ency of skin conductance responses and spontaneous fluctuations in ski n conductance, the association was more evident for women than for men . However, the ratio of stimulus-elicited to spontaneous skin conducta nce responses showed a reliable association with obstetric complicatio ns without any gender differences. The relationship between obstetric complications and electrodermal activity was interpreted in terms of n eurodevelopmental insults resulting in structural brain abnormalities interfering with orienting and electrodermal activity.