The DOI matches its Crossref record; 36 of the 39 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Low-dose naltrexone effects on plasma chemistries and clinical symptoms in autism: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study
Abstract
The effect of month-long naltrexone (NTX) treatment at a daily oral dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day was contrasted with placebo (PLC) in a double-blind study with conjoint clinical and biochemical evaluations of therapeutic effects. Modest clinical benefits were achieved with both PLC and NTX, with marginally better overall results following NTX, and degree of improvement appeared to be related to plasma chemical profiles. Massively elevated levels of beta-endorphin were observed in all children with assays using C-terminal antibody but not with an N-terminal antibody assay. In addition, 70% of the children exhibited abnormally low levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, and smaller subsets exhibited elevated norepinephrine (60%), arginine-vasopressin (50%), and serotonin (20%). The best clinical responders exhibited the clearest normalization of the elevated plasma chemistries, especially in C-terminal-beta-endorphin and serotonin. There was some evidence of therapeutic carry-over effects in both clinical and biochemical measures in those children who received NTX before PLC. The results suggest that NTX only benefits a subgroup of autistic children, who may be identified by the presence of certain plasma abnormalities. These results suggest a possible linkage between abnormal plasma chemistries, especially those related to the pro-opiomelanocortin system, and autistic symptoms.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Bouvard, M. P., Leboyer, M., Launay, J.-M., Recasens, C., Plumet, M.-H., Waller-Perotte, D., Tabuteau, F., Bondoux, D., Dugas, M., Lensing, P., & Panksepp, J.
- Affiliations
- Hôpital Robert-Debré (FR)
- Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (FR)
- Hôpital Saint-Louis (FR)
- Bowling Green State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Panksepp, Jaak
- Venue
- Psychiatry Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1995-10
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 191-201
- ISSN
- 0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1963985457
- Cited by
- 112
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 1.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Keywords
- naltrexone, autism spectrum disorder, beta-endorphin, ACTH, norepinephrine, vasopressin, serotonin, plasma chemistry, placebo response
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Autistic Disorder, beta-Endorphin, Child, Child, Preschool, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Double-Blind Method, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Humans, Male, Naltrexone, Narcotic Antagonists, Personality Assessment, Neurotransmitter Agents
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