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Science 7 July 1978:
Vol. 201. no. 4350, pp. 73 - 76
DOI: 10.1126/science.351804
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Articles

Science, Vol 201, Issue 4350, 73-76
Copyright © 1978 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Effects of naloxone on schizophrenia: reduction in hallucinations in a subpopulation of subjects

SJ Watson, PA Berger, H Akil, MJ Mills, and JD Barchas

Endogenous opiate-like peptides (endorphins) are putative neuroregulators located throughout the mammalian brainstem. There is some evidence for their role in pain, stress, and affect. We report that the opiate antagonist, naloxone, alters some schizophrenic symptoms. In a double-blind, cross-over study, naloxone produced decreases in auditory hallucinations in some schizophrenic patients. This finding supports the hypothesis that the endorphins may play a roll in modulating hallucinations in a highly selected subgroup of chronically hallucinating schizophrenic patients.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
High-Dose Naloxone Infusions in Normals: Dose-Dependent Behavioral, Hormonal, and Physiological Responses.
M. R. Cohen, R. M. Cohen, D. Pickar, H. Weingartner, and D. L. Murphy (1983)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 40, 613-619
   Abstract »    PDF »
Short-term Naloxone Administration in Schizophrenic and Manic Patients: A World Health Organization Collaborative Study.
D. Pickar, F. Vartanian, W. E. Bunney Jr, H. P. Maier, M. T. Gastpar, R. Prakash, B. B. Sethi, R. Lideman, B. S. Belyaev, M. V. A. Tsutsulkovskaja, et al. (1982)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 39, 313-319
   Abstract »    PDF »
Stress-induced eating is mediated through endogenous opiates.
J. Morley and A. Levine (1980)
Science 209, 1259-1261
   Abstract »    PDF »
{beta}-Endorphin and Schizophrenia.
P. A. Berger, S. J. Watson, H. Akil, G. R. Elliott, R. T. Rubin, A. Pfefferbaum, K. L. Davis, J. D. Barchas, and C. H. Li (1980)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 37, 635-640
   Abstract »    PDF »
{beta}-Endorphin: Intravenous Infusion Causes Behavioral Change in Psychiatric Inpatients.
R. H. Gerner, D. H. Catlin, D. A. Gorelick, K. K. Hui, and C. H. Li (1980)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 37, 642-647
   Abstract »    PDF »
Naloxone-Induced Behavioral and Physiological Effects in Normal and Manic Subjects.
L. L. Judd, D. S. Janowsky, D. S. Segal, and L. Y. Huey (1980)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 37, 583-586
   Abstract »    PDF »
Plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity in schizophrenia.
M Ross, P. Berger, and A Goldstein (1979)
Science 205, 1163-1164
   Abstract »    PDF »
Basic and Clinical Studies of Endorphins.
W. E. BUNNEY Jr., C. B. PERT, W. KLEE, E. COSTA, A. PERT, and G. C. DAVIS (1979)
Ann Intern Med 91, 239-250
   Abstract »    PDF »
Pituitary hormones in brain: where, how, and why?.
D. Krieger and A. Liotta (1979)
Science 205, 366-372
   Abstract »    PDF »
Some Observations on the Opiate Peptides and Schizophrenia.
S. J. Watson, H. Akil, P. A. Berger, and J. D. Barchas (1979)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 36, 35-41
   Abstract »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)