Temperature Regulation in Schizophrenia

Abstract

has been the object of many experimental attacks, including a search for an underlying somatic, or "organic," factor. Those who have made inquiries along this line have brought to light much evidence of physiological abnormality in schizophrenia, associated particularly with the function of the autonomic nervous system.Hoskins,1 in 1946, published the results of many years of physiological research, comprising studies of endocrine function, metabolism, circulation and various homeostatic mechanisms. Many other workers have contributed pertinent data to this subject. The over-all impression gained from a review of this literature is that the chief physiological defect in schizophrenia is in the sphere of homeostasis, with diminished adaptability to both endogenous and exogenous stimuli. Dysfunction at the cortical or the hypothalamic level has been implicated most frequently in the explanation of the observed impairment of autonomic function.In this report, data on temperature regulation are submitted. This material was collected in the course of a more comprehensive study of the clinical, psychological and physiological effects of prefrontal lobotomy in schizophrenic patients (to be published). The observations set forth in this paper were derived from the preoperative survey of temperature regulation in a group of patients involved in this larger study.Temperature regulation was selected for study because it represents an aspect of homeostatic function which depends on a fine degree

Response to cutaneous pain in mental hospital patients.

“…The findings of the present study would support the widely held view that process and/or chronic schizophrenic patients tend to underreact to a wide variety of physical, chemical, biological, and psychological stimuli (Angyal & Blackman, 1940;Buck, Carscallen, & Hobbs, 1950;Freeman & Rodnick, 1940, 1942Hock, ct al., 1944;Hoffer & Osmond, 1967;Hoskins, 1946;Leach, 1960;Lucy, 1954;Weckowicz & Hall, 1958). These findings are compatible with the view that in the acute phase of schizophrenia the anxiety level is high, producing a low PT and high reactivity to noxious stimuli.…”

Response to cutaneous pain in mental hospital patients.

“…The findings of the present study would support the widely held view that process and/or chronic schizophrenic patients tend to underreact to a wide variety of physical, chemical, biological, and psychological stimuli (Angyal & Blackman, 1940;Buck, Carscallen, & Hobbs, 1950;Freeman & Rodnick, 1940, 1942Hock, ct al., 1944;Hoffer & Osmond, 1967;Hoskins, 1946;Leach, 1960;Lucy, 1954;Weckowicz & Hall, 1958). These findings are compatible with the view that in the acute phase of schizophrenia the anxiety level is high, producing a low PT and high reactivity to noxious stimuli.…”

Using thermographic cameras to investigate eye temperature and clinical severity in depression

“…A review of the relevant articles regarding thermoregulatory dysfunction in SCZ patients was conducted. 11 The studies by Cameron 12 and Buck et al 13 found that SCZ patients have lower baseline temperature when compared to that of controls. The initial skin temperature recorded by Hermesh et al 14 was significantly lower in the patient group, but Douglass and Toogood 15 found that the baseline temperature in SCZ patients and controls were similar, and the study of Shiloh et al 16 showed a higher baseline temperature in patients.…”

Possible association of schizophrenia with a disturbance in prostaglandin metabolism: a physiological hypothesis

“…They deal simply with body temperature in chronic schizophrenic patients, with diurnal variations and with the response to changes in the environmental temperature. Temperature appears to be a little subnormal in chronic schizophrenic patients, the diurnal variations appear to be atypical and there are some differences in the response to cold but not to heat, suggesting some disturbance in temperature regulation of chronic schizophrenic patients (Cameron, 1934;Freeman, 1939;Buck et al 1950).…”

Response to cutaneous pain in mental hospital patients.

“…The findings of the present study would support the widely held view that process and/or chronic schizophrenic patients tend to underreact to a wide variety of physical, chemical, biological, and psychological stimuli (Angyal & Blackman, 1940;Buck, Carscallen, & Hobbs, 1950;Freeman & Rodnick, 1940, 1942Hock, ct al., 1944;Hoffer & Osmond, 1967;Hoskins, 1946;Leach, 1960;Lucy, 1954;Weckowicz & Hall, 1958). These findings are compatible with the view that in the acute phase of schizophrenia the anxiety level is high, producing a low PT and high reactivity to noxious stimuli.…”

Using thermographic cameras to investigate eye temperature and clinical severity in depression

“…A review of the relevant articles regarding thermoregulatory dysfunction in SCZ patients was conducted. 11 The studies by Cameron 12 and Buck et al 13 found that SCZ patients have lower baseline temperature when compared to that of controls. The initial skin temperature recorded by Hermesh et al 14 was significantly lower in the patient group, but Douglass and Toogood 15 found that the baseline temperature in SCZ patients and controls were similar, and the study of Shiloh et al 16 showed a higher baseline temperature in patients.…”

Possible association of schizophrenia with a disturbance in prostaglandin metabolism: a physiological hypothesis

“…They deal simply with body temperature in chronic schizophrenic patients, with diurnal variations and with the response to changes in the environmental temperature. Temperature appears to be a little subnormal in chronic schizophrenic patients, the diurnal variations appear to be atypical and there are some differences in the response to cold but not to heat, suggesting some disturbance in temperature regulation of chronic schizophrenic patients (Cameron, 1934;Freeman, 1939;Buck et al 1950).…”

Response to cutaneous pain in mental hospital patients.

“…The findings of the present study would support the widely held view that process and/or chronic schizophrenic patients tend to underreact to a wide variety of physical, chemical, biological, and psychological stimuli (Angyal & Blackman, 1940;Buck, Carscallen, & Hobbs, 1950;Freeman & Rodnick, 1940, 1942Hock, ct al., 1944;Hoffer & Osmond, 1967;Hoskins, 1946;Leach, 1960;Lucy, 1954;Weckowicz & Hall, 1958). These findings are compatible with the view that in the acute phase of schizophrenia the anxiety level is high, producing a low PT and high reactivity to noxious stimuli.…”

Using thermographic cameras to investigate eye temperature and clinical severity in depression

“…A review of the relevant articles regarding thermoregulatory dysfunction in SCZ patients was conducted. 11 The studies by Cameron 12 and Buck et al 13 found that SCZ patients have lower baseline temperature when compared to that of controls. The initial skin temperature recorded by Hermesh et al 14 was significantly lower in the patient group, but Douglass and Toogood 15 found that the baseline temperature in SCZ patients and controls were similar, and the study of Shiloh et al 16 showed a higher baseline temperature in patients.…”

Possible association of schizophrenia with a disturbance in prostaglandin metabolism: a physiological hypothesis

“…They deal simply with body temperature in chronic schizophrenic patients, with diurnal variations and with the response to changes in the environmental temperature. Temperature appears to be a little subnormal in chronic schizophrenic patients, the diurnal variations appear to be atypical and there are some differences in the response to cold but not to heat, suggesting some disturbance in temperature regulation of chronic schizophrenic patients (Cameron, 1934;Freeman, 1939;Buck et al 1950).…”