Effects of naloxone on schizophrenia: reduction in hallucinations in a subpopulation of subjects. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • 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.

publication date

  • July 7, 1978

Research

keywords

  • Hallucinations
  • Naloxone
  • Schizophrenia

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0018095668

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1126/science.351804

PubMed ID

  • 351804

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 201

issue

  • 4350