Autonomic Nervous System and Meridian Energy in Patients With Schizophrenia

Data collection was conducted at a medical center in northern Taiwan. Sample size estimation was performed using G*Power 3.1. A total of 50 patients with schizophrenia were assigned to the disease group, and 50 healthy individuals were assigned to the control group, with a total of 100 participants expected. Data collection included: personal demographic questionnaire, body constitution questionnaire (BCQ), WHOQOL-BREF (Taiwan version) for quality of life, brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS), heart rate variability (HRV), meridian energy

Inclusion criteria

• Disease group：

• Diagnosed with schizophrenia by a physician (ICD-10 code F20, such as F20.0, F20.1, F20.2, F20.3, F20.5, F20.89, or F20.9), with stable condition, and has not had any changes in medication dosage or admission to a psychiatric acute care unit in the past 3 months.
• Aged between 18 and 65 years.
• Able to understand, speak, read, and write Mandarin or Taiwanese.
• Control group：

• No history of chronic illness and no acute symptoms within the past month.
• Aged between 18 and 65 years.
• Able to understand, speak, read, and write Mandarin or Taiwanese.

Exclusion criteria

• Disease group：

• Individuals with cardiovascular conditions, severe neurological disorders (e.g., organic brain disorders, early-stage dementia or diagnosed dementia), or substance abuse issues.
• Individuals who have used medications affecting the autonomic nervous system within the past month, such as mood stabilizers, antidepressants, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors inhibitors, β-blockers, or antiarrhythmics.
• Individuals with metallic implants that could affect heart rate variability.
• Individuals with involuntary and uncontrollable body tremors.
• Women currently menstruating.
• Pregnant women.
• Control group：

• Individuals with cardiovascular conditions, severe neurological disorders (e.g., organic brain disorders, early-stage dementia or diagnosed dementia), or substance abuse issues.
• Individuals who have used medications affecting the autonomic nervous system within the past month, such as psychiatric medications, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors inhibitors, β-blockers, or antiarrhythmics .
• Individuals with metallic implants that could affect heart rate variability.
• Individuals with involuntary and uncontrollable body tremors.
• Women currently menstruating.
• Pregnant women.