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Published on: November 11, 2013
Long-term effects of naltrexone on self-injurious behavior
C A Sandman1, W Hetrick, D V Taylor
1University of California, Irvine, USA. casandma@uci.edu
American Journal of Mental Retardation : AJMR
|February 7, 2001
Summary
Naltrexone, an opiate-blocking agent, shows complex effects on self-injuring behavior (SIB). Some patients experienced sustained SIB reduction after initial naltrexone exposure, while others required long-term treatment for improvement.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Self-injuring behavior (SIB) is a complex issue.
- A subset of patients with SIB shows positive responses to naltrexone, an opiate-blocking agent, in acute studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the acute and long-term effects of naltrexone on SIB.
- To understand the variability in patient responses to naltrexone treatment for SIB.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study design.
- SIB rates were assessed at pretreatment baseline, one year post-acute trial, and during a 12-month double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment phase.
- Inclusion of patients who responded to acute naltrexone treatment and those who did not.
Main Results:
- A subgroup of patients demonstrated a year-long decrease in SIB after acute naltrexone exposure without ongoing treatment.
- Five participants who initially reduced SIB by 70% experienced an increase in SIB during long-term naltrexone treatment.
- Conversely, patients whose SIB increased during the treatment hiatus showed decreased SIB after initiating long-term naltrexone treatment.
Conclusions:
- Naltrexone's long-term effects on SIB are complex and can vary significantly among individuals.
- Factors such as background opioid levels, dosing strategies, and treatment regimens may influence naltrexone's efficacy and receptor adaptation in patients with SIB.
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