Indication of an antipsychotic action of the opiate antagonist naloxone.
In 20 psychotic patients with frequent hallucinations and/or actual delusional experience a possible antipsychotic action of the opiate antagonist naloxone (N-allyl-noroxymorphone) was investigated, using a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design. 18 of these patients were not treated with neuroleptic drugs; 13 suffered from an acute episode of schizophrenia. Psychopathological changes were assessed by the use of the IMPS-scale and of a symptom-specific rating scale (VBS). Intravenous injection of naloxone (in most cases 4.0 mg) induced a reduction of psychotic symptomatology (especially hallucinations) in the majority of patients. Compared with placebo this effect reached statistical significance within 2-7 hours after injection. From this result a possible involvement of endogenous ligands of opiate receptors in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia may be concluded.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010919:Placebos; D009270:Naloxone