Effects of Psychiatric Interview upon Paroxysmal Cerebral Activity and Autonomic Measures in a Disturbed Child with Petit Mal Epilepsy

&NA; A method of studying the effects of clinical interview on the emotionally disturbed child with a petit mal convulsive disorder is described. Utilized were the EKG, GSR, and respiration records as measures of autonomic nervous system activity; the EEG to determine 3‐cps. paroxysmal activity; and a simultaneously recorded interview as an indicator of the patient's emotional disorder. It was found that the patient showed highly significant increases in GSR and heart rate during the interview and equally significant decrements in the 3‐cps. burst activity.

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