title: Paradoxical excitement to sedative-hypnotics in mentally retarded clients.
abstract: The relationships among "paradoxical" excitement to sedative--hypnotic medication, self-injurious behavior, and perinatal trauma were evaluated. Mentally retarded patients were classified as either paradoxical or normal responders to sedative-hypnotics. Paradoxical responders to these medications have a lower MA, a history of perinatal trauma, self-injurious behavior (SIB), and aggressive behavior when compared to normal responders. These findings confirmed and extended previous reports that a type of SIB may be indexed by paradoxical response to sedative-hypnotics. Results also suggested that perinatal trauma may be of etiological importance in the development of SIB. Because perinatal trauma or fetal distress results in excessive levels of B-endorphin, in utero, an impaired endogenous opiate system may be a critical factor maintaining a syndrome of SIB. Thus, these data may indicate psychopharmacological markers of SIB that may have both treatment and etiological significance.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004723:Endorphins / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000502:physiology; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D001615:beta-Endorphin
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D001615:beta-Endorphin