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Endorphins and schizophrenia

  • Chapter
Hormones and the Brain

Abstract

Clinical endorphin research in schizophrenia has so far fanned out in the following directions: (a) studies of endorphin concentration in body fluids, and (b) studies of the effects in schizophrenic patients of opiate (endorphin) antagonists, and of endorphins and endorphin derivatives. The main results are reviewed in this paper. The conclusions drawn are:

  1. (1)

    Body fluid research has so far yielded no conclusive evidence of disrupted endorphin metabolism in schizophrenia. Technology for the measurement of small quantities of endorphins is, however, still deficient.

  2. (2)

    The opiate antagonist issue is controversial. One of the major problems is that the studies undertaken differ considerably from each other in patient selection, dose and route of administration, making comparisons difficult. Furthermore, only single dose studies have been reported; the results of repeated administrations may be different.

  3. (3)

    To date only β-endorphin, DTγE (a fragment of γ-endorphin) and FK33-824 (a synthetic met-enkephalin derivative) have been studied therapeutically. Of these, DTγE is the most interesting in scientific terms, firstly because, pharmacologically, it seems to be related to the ‘true’ neuroleptics, and secondly because its lacks morphinomimetic properties. The therapeutic potential of this substance, if confirmed, would therefore not be related to morphine-like activity but to a ‘genuine’ opiate-receptor-independent anti-psychotic action.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universiteitskliniek voor Psychiatrie, Academisch Ziekenhuis Utrecht, Catharijnesingel 101, 3500 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Professor H. M. Van Praag

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  1. Professor H. M. Van Praag
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  2. W. M. A. Verhoeven
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© 1980 MTP Press Limited

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Van Praag, H.M., Verhoeven, W.M.A. (1980). Endorphins and schizophrenia. In: Hormones and the Brain. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8709-8_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8709-8_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-8711-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-8709-8

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