Habituation of the psycho-galvanic reflex in patients with anxiety states and in normal subjects

Lader, Malcolm; Wing, Lorna

doi:10.1136/jnnp.27.3.210

Cited by 130 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Habituation (i.e., reduction in response strength with repeated stimulus presentations) (Groves & Thompson, 1970) provided a descriptive framework for responses during systematic desensitization (Lader & Wing, 1964) and in vivo exposure therapy (i.e., exposure to feared stimuli in real life) because self-reported fear and physiological arousal most often decline within and across exposure occasions (e.g., Kozak, Foa, & Steketee, 1988;Parkinson & Rachman, 1980;Rachman & deSilva, 1978;Sartory, Rachman, & Grey, 1977). [Although, there often is desynchrony between decline in self-reports of distress versus physiological indices of arousal (e.g., Craske, Sanderson, & Barlow, 1987;Gauthier & Marshall, 1977;Lande, 1982).]…”

Section: Learning Based Models Of Exposure Therapy: Historical Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Inhibition in Exposure Therapy

Craske

Liao

Brown

et al. 2012

Journal of Experimental Psychopathology

204

140

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While many researchers have largely focused on principles of systematic desensitization and habituation in explaining fear extinction, these processes have mixed evidence at best. In particular, these models do not account for spontaneous recovery or reinstatement of fear, nor do they explain the context dependency of extinction or rapid reacquisition. This may in part account for the significant number of patients who fail to respond to our available treatments which rely on these principles in designing exposure sessions. However, recent research is converging to suggest that an inhibitory model of fear reduction, in which the original feared association (CS-US) remains but is inhibited by a newly formed association (CS-noUS) representing safety, holds promise in explaining the long-term attenuation of fear and anxiety. This paper reviews research in a number of areas, including neuroimaging, psychophysiology, and psychopharmacology that all provide support for the inhibition model of anxiety. Limitations to this body of research are discussed, along with recommendations for future research and suggestions for improving exposure therapy for fear and anxiety disorders. Clinical implications discussed in this paper include incorporating random and variable practice in exposure sessions, multiple contexts, and pharmacological aides, among others.

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Section: Learning Based Models Of Exposure Therapy: Historical Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Inhibition in Exposure Therapy

Craske

Liao

Brown

et al. 2012

Journal of Experimental Psychopathology

204

140

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“…On this basis, it would seem useful to examine the effects of the two types of drugs on electrodermal responding. A number of studies, most notably those by Lader and Wing (1964), have shown that anxious patients are characterized by high skin conductance activity and a slow rate of habituation. These authors also showed that amylobarbitone and chlordiazepoxide both reduced skin conductance activity and increased the rate of habituation.…”

Section: Mrc Clinical Research Centre Harrow Middlesex Englandmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of chronic treatment with amitriptyline and diazepam on electrodermal activity in neurotic outpatients

et al. 1984

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Electrodermal activity (EDA) was investigated in 162 neurotic outpatients who were randomly assigned to 4 weeks of treatment with various combinations of placebo, amitryptiline, and diazepam. During the measurement of EDA, all patients heard a series of tones. Ninety-one patients experienced this habituation series with no accompanying task (Condition 1), and 71 performed a simple forewarned reaction time task to which the tones were irrelevant (Condition 2). Amitriptyline produced a consistent reduction in skin conductance level and in response magnitudes in both conditions. Diazepam produced a marked reduction in responding in Condition 1, but in Condition 2 responses to the tones were reduced by the attention-engaging reaction time task, and diazepam did not produce a further reduction. Subjects treated with diazepam were more likely to press the RT button erroneously in response to the tones. These subjects had the lowest levels of skin conductance activity. On the other hand, the subjects who made such errors although not treated with diazepam had the highest levels of skin conductance activity. This interaction between the effects of diazepam and task performance in Condition 2 suggests that diazepam affects EDA at a relatively central level, since its effects interact with the attentional demands of the situation.Anxiety states and neurotic depression are the commonest of neurotic illnesses and are usually treated with benzodiazepines and/or tricyclic antidepressants. However, the effects of these drugs on psychological functions remain little understood. At one level, these illnesses have clear associations with extreme arousal states. That is, anxious patients are characterized by overarousal and depressed patients are characterized by underarousal. Electodermal responses and, in particular, the habituation of the electrodermal response have frequently been used as indices of arousal. On this basis, it would seem useful to examine the effects of the two types of drugs on electrodermal responding. A number of studies, most notably those by Lader and Wing (1964), have shown that anxious patients are characterized by high skin conductance activity and a slow rate of habituation. These authors also showed that amylobarbitone and chlordiazepoxide both reduced skin conductance activity and increased the rate of habituation. The evidence on depressed patients is less clear, but two studies have found that skin conductance level and responsivity is abnormally reduced inThe authors are very grateful to the patients for their cooperation with this study. They also wish to thank T. J. Crow for his encouragement and advice in the design and conduct of the study. They are grateful to him and to

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“…Electrodermal activity has long been regarded as a useful measure of arousal in the waking state. With regard to skin resistance the number of spontaneously occurring fluctuations has been found to be especially reliable in this respect (Johnson, 1963;Lader and Wing, 1964 …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in skin potential level during sleep in psychiatric patients

Perkins

Baker²

1976

Postgraduate Medical Journal

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Electrodermal activity in human subjects has been studied in two separate ways. It has either been measured indirectly as skin resistance (or conductance) or directly as skin potential. In both cases absolute levels and spontaneously occurring fluctuations have been measured. Electrodermal activity has long been regarded as a useful measure of arousal in the waking state. With regard to skin resistance the number of spontaneously occurring fluctuations has been found to be especially reliable in this respect (Johnson, 1963;Lader and Wing, 1964

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Habituation of the psycho-galvanic reflex in patients with anxiety states and in normal subjects

Cited by 130 publications

References 20 publications

Role of Inhibition in Exposure Therapy

Role of Inhibition in Exposure Therapy

The effects of chronic treatment with amitriptyline and diazepam on electrodermal activity in neurotic outpatients

Changes in skin potential level during sleep in psychiatric patients

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