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Endorphins in psychiatry: an overview and a hypothesis
Archives of General Psychiatry
|July 1, 1978
Summary
This review explores endorphins (endogenous opioid peptides), their role in psychological homeostasis, and potential disturbances in mental illness. It suggests altered brain opioid levels may link to psychological events and impact mental health treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Endogenous opioid peptides, or endorphins, play crucial roles in the body.
- Understanding their function is key to understanding psychological well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the biochemistry, pharmacology, and physiology of endorphins.
- To examine the clinical psychopharmacology of exogenous opiates.
- To explore the link between endorphin levels and psychological homeostasis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific articles.
- Analysis of evidence supporting the endorphin-homeostasis hypothesis.
- Consideration of clinical psychopharmacology data.
Main Results:
- Endorphin levels may be linked to psychological events.
- A normal endorphin level is necessary for psychological homeostasis.
- The brains of mentally ill individuals may exhibit disturbed opioid levels.
Conclusions:
- The reviewed evidence supports a hypothesis connecting endorphin levels to psychological stability.
- Disturbances in brain opioid systems could be implicated in mental illness.
- This hypothesis has significant therapeutic implications for psychiatric disorders.