Spectroscopic and Photo-Electric Oximetry in Schizophrenia and other Psychiatric States

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to outline the application to various psychiatric conditions of a test which measures peripheral capillary oxygen saturation and to discuss the significance of the findings. It is convenient to commence with a brief review of some previous work concerning the relevance of anoxaemia to psychiatry.

The Capillary System in Patients with Psychiatric Disorders

“…It was mentioned, in the introduction to the present communication, that edema and cyanosis were characteristic features of the hands of certain patients with psychiatric disturbances, and it has also been shown (Lovett Doust,# 1951, 1952, and 1955) that capillary anoxemia is characteristic of such patients, both at rest and in states of emo¬ tional unrest. It appeared of interest, there¬ fore, to undertake an analysis of capillary pressure in terms of some variables relating to capillary oxygen saturation levels.…”

“…Some of the literature on these peripheral vascular anomalies has been recently reviewed (Abramson,1 1944;Shattock,32 1950;Lovett Doust,* 1951 and1952). Clinically, the puffy, raw-beef, violaceous hands of some schizophrenic patients contrast vividly with the white, baby\ x=req-\ soft, transparent peripheral pallor of others.…”

Studies on the Physiology of Awareness

“…The technique of this rapid and nontraumatic method of measuring the arterial blood oxygen saturation levels has already been detailed 25 and its validity and reliability estimated. The technique of this rapid and nontraumatic method of measuring the arterial blood oxygen saturation levels has already been detailed 25 and its validity and reliability estimated.…”

Metabolic Disturbances in Psychiatric Patients and Their Significance for Therapy

“…What is the relationship of this knowledge to what we know of the metabolic disturbances of such patients? And we know, too, that the actual amount of oxygen in the circulation of the rOinute vessels is less in constitutional schizophrenics than it should be (Lovett Doust, 1952b) . We know, for example, that the amount of oxygen taken up by schizophrenics is only 87 per cent.…”