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Influence of D‐ or DL‐propranolol and chlorpromazine on habituation of phasic electrodermal responses in schizophrenia
Author(s) -
Gruzelier J. H.,
Hirsch S. R.,
Weller M.,
Murphy C.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1979.tb00272.x
Subject(s) - habituation , propranolol , chlorpromazine , skin conductance , orienting response , psychology , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , reflex , psychosis , medicine , neuroscience , anesthesia , psychiatry , biomedical engineering
dextro Propranolol was found to share the properties of the racemate in facilitating habituation of the electrodermal orienting reflex in schizophrenic patients. This effect appeared independent of influences on levels of skin conductance and non‐specific responses. Chlorpromazine did not normalise orienting activity. If the findings from open clinical studies that D‐propranolol has anti‐psychotic properties are confirmed, the fact that dextro propranolol has only minimal cardiovascular effects may give it important advantages as an anti‐psychotic agent. Controlled clinical studies to prove its therapeutic action and neurobiological studies to determine its central mechanisms of action are warranted.