[Antipsychotic efficacy of neuroleptic neuropeptides in schizophrenia. Review of clinical data]

Abstract

Recently much interest has been shown in the antipsychotic efficacy of neuroleptic-like neuropeptides in schizophrenia. In this article the clinical effects of the non-opioid fragments of gamma-endorphin, the so-called gamma-type endorphins DT gamma E and DE gamma E are reviewed. In addition, preliminary clinical studies of peptides related to cholecystokinin are considered. It is concluded that gamma-type endorphins possess antipsychotic properties in a subgroup of patients who may belong to Type I schizophrenia. With cholecystokinin-related peptides, in particular ceruletide, antipsychotic effects have been reported, which seem to be more or less comparable to those observed with gamma-type endorphins.