PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE PATTERNS IN CARDIAC PATIENTS,
Abstract
EEG amplitude, alpha index, skin conductance, GSR spontaneity, heart rate, respiration rate, and skin temperature were compared among groups of hospitalized hypertensive, arteriosclerotic and rheumatic heart disease patients. There were no significant differences among the groups when the patient's age was used as a covariate. Autonomic responses to neutral and emotional stimuli also failed to differentiate the three groups when the prestimulus level was used as a covariate. Habituation curves for GSR, heart rate, respiration rate and skin temperature were not significantly different among the groups. A test of the 'law of initial value' indicated that skin conductance changes in the hypertensive group did not show the positive regression line slope that typifies nonclinical groups. The results are generally consistent with the growing body of data which indicate that psychosomatic disorders are characterized by a large degree of automonic response specificity. The validity of a concept of general sympathetic hyperactivity in hypertensive disorders seems highly doubtful. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0621500
Entities
People
- David J. Hord
- Duane M. Rumbaugh
- Laverne C. Johnson