Low Plasma Immunoreactive β‐Endorphin Levels in Autism

RONIT WEIZMAN*, IRIT GIL-AD, JACOB DICK, SAM TYANO, GEORGE A. SZEKELY, ZVI LARON

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalEditorial

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Baseline morning basal plasma immunoreactive β-endorphin (ir-β-EP) level was assayed in 22 autistic, 22 schizophrenic, and 22 control subjects. Eight autistics and eight schizophrenics were drug-free while the remaining patients were maintained on neuroleptic treatment. The mean values of ir-β-EP were significantly lower in unmedicated and medicated autistics compared to age- and sex-matched schizophrenics and healthy controls. Unaltered ir-β-EP levels were observed in untreated schizophrenics, while neuroleptic treatment induced a significant elevation of the opioid levels. A lower ir-β-EP elevation was achieved by neuroleptics in autistics when compared to treated schizophrenics. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1988, 27, 4:430–433.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)430-433
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Volume27
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988

Keywords

  • autism
  • immunoreactive-β-endorphin
  • neuroleptics
  • schizophrenia

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