Intravenous naloxone administration in schizophrenia and affective illness

Glenn C. Davis, William E. Bunney, Emanuel G. Defraites, Joel E. Kleinman, Daniel P. Van Kammen, Robert M. Post, Richard J. Wyatt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

102 Scopus citations

Abstract

Fourteen schizophrenic patients and five patients with affective disorders were given naloxone (0.4 to 10 milligrams) or placebo intravenously in a double-blind fashion. Physicians' ratings of hallucinations, mannerisms and posturing, conceptual disorganization, psychosis, and mood did not change significantly. A single item, unusual thought content, improved significantly on the naloxone day compared to the placebo day. There was no improvement in mood in affectively ill patients rated either by themselves or by physicians. Naloxone did not markedly improve any patient studied, which suggests that the acute blockade of opiate receptors is not associated with global improvement in psychotic symptomatology.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)74-77
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume197
Issue number4298
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1977
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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