Vaso-Dilatation in Normal and Schizophrenic Subjects during Cyclopropane Anesthesia*

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Abstract
In view of the possibility of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system in schizophrenia, a study was made of the effects of vasoparesis by anesthesia on the skin temperature in ten normal and ten chronically ill schizophrenic subjects. The surface temperature of both feet was measured before and during the induction of deep anesthesia by cyclopropane. It was found that with the induction of anesthesia the temperature of the feet rose sharply but not at an equal rate of speed. The schizophrenic patients behaved similarly to the normal subjects both in the rate and rapidity of the rise of temperature and the diversity in behavior of the two lower extremities. It is concluded that the neurogenic mechanisms in schizophrenia are capable of a normal response to vasodilatation induced by anesthesia.

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