The treatment of schizophrenic psychoses with gamma-type endorphins.
The pharmacological actions of gamma-type endorphins show similarities to those of the neuroleptics. Two fragments of gamma-endorphin (beta-LPH 61-77) were therefore tested in patients with schizophrenic and schizo-affective psychoses who had shown an insufficient response to neuroleptics. The fragments were DT gamma E (beta-LPH 62-77) and DE gamma E (beta-LPH 66-77). Some of the patients studied responded favorably to this treatment. A number of criteria of differentiation between responders and nonresponders are discussed. The influence of DT gamma E on the central DA metabolism differs from that of the neuroleptics. It is therefore conceivable that gamma-type endorphins represent a different principle of action. The therapeutic efficacy of these compounds lends support to the hypothesis that disorders of central endorphin metabolism may play a role in the pathogenesis of psychoses of the schizophrenic type.
D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004723:Endorphins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D018823:gamma-Endorphin
D004723:Endorphins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D018823:gamma-Endorphin; C018903:gamma-endorphin, des-Tyr(1)-; C033558:des-enkephalin-gamma-endorphin; D004298:Dopamine