Citation

Kars H, Broekema W, Glaudemans-van Gelderen I, Verhoeven WM, van Ree JM. Biol. Psychiatry 1990; 27(7): 741-746.

Affiliation

Institute for Mental Retardation, Eemeroord, Baarn, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2158355

Abstract

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.

Language: en