THE BLOOD PRESSURE IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Abstract

Numerous observers have noted that the arterial tension in dementia praecox is below that of the average person. Kraepelin¹stated that the blood pressure in this condition, as a rule, is lowered. Besta,²in an investigation of the methylene blue excretion in this psychosis, noted that the arterial pressure is below normal. Gibson,³conducting an examination of the pathologic features of dementia praecox, found the mean systolic pressure in 44 male patients to range between 113 and 118 mm. of mercury among the various types, with 4 catatonic, 2 hebephrenic and 2 paranoid subjects having a systolic tension less than 100. Dawson⁴reported 50 cases of dementia praecox (in males) in which the mean systolic level was 116.9 mm., with 10 cases of catatonia and 4 of hebephrenia in which it was below 100; the diastolic reading was between 55 and 65 mm. in all cases.