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Distractibility and reaction time were measured in 25 clinically stable chronic schizophrenic subjects receiving psychotropic medications. Higher serum neuroleptic levels were associated with lessened distractibility. Extrapyramidal side effects and level of symptoms were each related to slow and variable reaction times.

The authors tested working or recent memory in 24 stabilized schizophrenic outpatients who were taking psychotropic medication. Memory performance did not correlate with severity of schizophrenic symptoms, verbal IQ, or serum neuroleptic levels, but there was a significant inverse correlation between serum anticholinergic levels and performance on the memory task. The results suggest that therapeutic doses of anticholinergics may cause subtle impairments of cognitive functions.

Summary Responses of Jewish and Protestant psychiatric Ss to 10 MMPI religion items were found to differ in the manner expected on the basis of Jewish and Protestant normals' ratings of the unfavorability of item endorsement. Education and private vs. public hospitalization were independently associated with item rejection rate. However, sex of S and psychotic vs. non-psychotic diagnosis were not related to item rejection. The differential response rate of Jewish and Protestant patients provides validity generalization for Gynther, Gray and Strauss' (1970) conclusion that social desirability values of MMPI items vary with relevant subject background characteristics as well as with item content.