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Failure of Hemodialysis to Diminish Psychotic Behavior in Schizophrenia: Behavioral and Psychophysiological Evaluation
Author(s) -
Kammen Daniel P.,
Schulz S. Charles,
Balow James E.,
Zahn Theodore P.,
Mundinger Gerhard,
Flye M. Wayne,
Bunney William E.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1594.1983.tb04202.x
Subject(s) - hemodialysis , dialysis , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychology , electroencephalography , medicine , psychosis , anesthesia , psychiatry
In a double‐blind sham replacement study, eight drug‐free schizophrenic patients underwent 10 active and 10 sham hemodialyses for 20 weeks. At the end of the 10 active dialyses, none of the patients appeared to be improved in psychotic, affective, or social symptoms. Active dialysis was associated with a “startle“ response in heart rate and skin conductance to auditory stimuli, while sham dialysis was associated with an “orienting“ response. Night‐recorded sleep electroencephalography was unaffected by active dialysis. Spinal fluid beta‐endor‐phin‐like immunoreactivity levels were unchanged after active treatment. The behavioral improvements Reported in other studies may be related to “stress,“ psychotherapeutic support, spontaneous remissions, neuroleptic withdrawal, denial of symptoms, or diagnostic differences. This study did not confirm the claims for hemodialysis as a specific therapeutic intervention in schizophrenia.