B-endorphin disregulation in autistic and self-injurious behavior: A neurodevelopmental hypothesis
✍ Scribed by Curt A. Sandman
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1988
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 804 KB
- Volume
- 2
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0887-4476
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Peptides derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) influence neurodevelopmental processes. Earlier studies indicated that MSWACTH compounds improved behavioral efficiency in retarded individuals. Recent studies have shown that opiate blockers reduce treatment-resistant self-injurious behavior (SIB), a n autistic-like, developmental disorder. Although the exact mechanisms are unknown, prenatal POMC disregulation, addiction to endogenous opiates and elevated pain threshold have been proposed to account for this behavior. In study one, four SIB patients were given 0, 25, 50 or 100 mg of naltrexone on separate weeks in a double blind, Latin square design. A specific dose dependent reduction in SIB was observed in three patients. In study two, plasma bendorphin was measured in 40 patients with SIB, a related behavior, stereotypy (ST) or controls. SIB and ST patients had higher levels of endorphin than controls. These data added new support for the role of b-endorphin in a treatment-resistant patient group.