Psychopathology and endorphins

Abstract

Suggestive evidence exists linking endorphins to the schizophrenic syndrome; narcotic antagonists appear to slightly attenuate some symptoms, attentional performance is improved and CSF opiate-binding substances are reported to be elevated in a sub-group of patients. Many fewer affectively ill patients have been studied and little evidence has accumulated suggesting a relationship between symptoms of affective illness and endorphins although CSF endorphins appear elevated in some manic-depressive patients and "pain patients" with depression have higher CSF endorphins than pain patients without depression. Catatonic symptoms as well as other psychomotor functions remain promising areas for study. Opioid effects on manic symptoms have been reported by only a few research groups and would benefit from study with longer-acting antagonists administered daily.