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A study of nineteen subjects—seven acute hyperthyroids, seven treated hyperthyroids, and five controls—, using a very dramatic moving picture, revealed specific differences in the modes of response of the three groups. Previewing and postviewing levels of PBI and PBI131 were measured and showed a sharp rise in all the acute hyperthyroid subjects during the film and for two hours afterwards. Treated hyperthyroids showed a rapid rise, followed shortly by a drop to normal levels. Controls remained close to the base line throughout. Autonomic nervous system determinations revealed a progressive decrease in the galvanic skin responses in both the acute and treated groups in contrast to the normals. Psychological tests showed a common tendency to counterphobic responses as a defense against the fear-engendering aspects of the film. This was in contrast to a wide variety of defenses used by the normal subjects. Treated hyperthyroids revealed more adequate counterphobic defense in contrast with the acute hyperthyroids, whose defenses functioned less adequately with a progressive lack of adaptation as the stress continued.
The authors believe that they have found a sufficiently sensitive technique for establishing reliable correlations between standardized stress experiences, the experimental subject's defense patterns, and physiological responses in the autonomic nervous system and thyroid function.