Naltrexone attenuates self-injurious behavior in mentally retarded subjects.
The effect of naltrexone on the frequency of self-injurious behavior (SIB) was investigated in 6 male subjects with profound mental retardation. Following a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design, naltrexone was administered in a dose of 50 mg once daily for 3 consecutive weeks. In 2 of 5 subjects, a significant decrease of SIB frequency could be demonstrated, and in 1, a tendency to a reduction was found. No effect on duration of restrain time was found in 3 subjects. These data suggest that disturbances of the endogenous opioid systems may be involved in the pathophysiology of SIB of certain patients.
Kars
H
H
Institute for Mental Retardation, Eemeroord, Baarn, The Netherlands.
Broekema
W
W
Glaudemans-van Gelderen
I
I
Verhoeven
W M
WM
van Ree
J M
JM
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000187:drug effects; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D009271:Naltrexone