title: Cessation of long-term naltrexone therapy and self-injury: a case study.
abstract: The cessation of long-term Naltrexone administration was investigated through a double-blind, placebo-controlled, withdrawal design in a 28-year-old, profoundly mentally retarded woman with a history of severe self-injurious behavior (SIB). The subject had previously exhibited a dramatic decrease in SIB subsequent to Naltrexone administration. At the end of 1 year of continuous drug treatment, the subject displayed a near-zero rate of SIB episodes. This near-zero rate continued through placebo and no-drug phases of the study and at 6-month (no-drug) follow-up. This trend suggests not only that Naltrexone may be effective in reducing SIB, but that long-term administration may produce durable results after treatment cessation. Findings are discussed in relation to the endogenous opioid system theories of SIB.
authors.affiliation: Central Virginia Training Center, Lynchburg 24505.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Crews
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonaventura
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonsie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D008134:Long-Term Care; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D009271:Naltrexone