Stress responses and coping propensity among paranoid and nonparanoid, episodic, and remitted schizophrenics.

Abstract
Remitted and episodic paranoid and non-paranoid schizophrenics performed a "coping task" consisting of a simple tapping response purported to affect the duration of stressing loud sounds. Cognitive appraisals of the effectiveness of the available response, and task-performance measures of propensity (vis-a-vis reticence) to engage in the response were monitored. Results indicated both paranoid and non-paranoid schizophrenics appraised the available coping response as being less effective than did controls; behavioural measures indicated generally lower propensity to cope among the nonparanoids; the paranoids, on the other hand, were similar to controls on selected coping-propensity measures. These differences remained constant across episodic and remitted stages of illness. Psychophysiological evidence of stress arousal (heart-rate acceleration) indicated elevated responsivity specifically among the episodic patients. Results were discussed in terms of current formulations concerning vulnerability to schizophrenic episodes and efforts to cope with environmental stressors.

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