Plasma beta-endorphin levels, naltrexone, and haloperidol in autistic children.
Plasma beta-endorphin levels were measured in 13 autistic children, aged 3.67 to 11.67 years at the end of treatment (naltrexone, haloperidol, pimozide, or placebo) and in 5 of the 13 children also at baseline. Baseline plasma beta-endorphin levels were lower than those reported in the literature. There was a strong correlation between plasma beta-endorphin levels and severity of sterotypies in all children. Naltrexone did not seem to have a specific effect on plasma beta-endorphin levels; short-term haloperidol treatment was associated with an increase, whereas long-term haloperidol treatment seemed to have a depressive effect on plasma beta-endorphin levels, which rose after withdrawal of haloperidol.
Ernst
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016.
Devi
L
L
Silva
R R
RR
Gonzalez
N M
NM
Small
A M
AM
Malone
R P
RP
Campbell
M
M
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
D009271:Naltrexone; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D006220:Haloperidol