Abstract
Endogenous opioid peptides have been implicated in the genesis and maintenance of self-injurious behavior. This paper presents an overview of the basic pharmacology of opioid peptides and opioid antagonists and briefly outlines the rationale for using these agents to treat self-injury in individuals with mental retardation. The basic assumption is that self-injury is related to the endogenous opioid system, with two, nonexclusive mechanisms having been postulated that may account for this behavior.
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Singh, Y.N., Ricketts, R.W., Ellis, C.R. et al. Opioid antagonists. I: Pharmacology and rationale for use in treating self-injury. J Dev Phys Disabil 5, 5–15 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01046594
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01046594