Premium
Naltrexone as a treatment of self‐injurious behavior — a case report
Author(s) -
Griengl H.,
Sendera A.,
Dantendorfer K.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2001.00087.x
Subject(s) - naltrexone , psychology , psychiatry , placebo , psychopathology , borderline personality disorder , personality , psychosis , personality disorders , endogenous opioid , medicine , opioid , social psychology , receptor , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective: Self‐injurious behavior (SIB) is a phenomenon associated with different psychopathological conditions such as psychosis, mental retardation and especially severe personality disorders — mainly of the borderline subtype. It has been suggested that a blockade of the endogenous opioid system might lead to a reduction of the urge to SIB. Method: The case and successful treatment of SIB with naltrexone in a patient with borderline personality disorder and dysthymia is described. Results: After treatment trials with neuroleptics, antidepressants and valproate the patient was treated with naltrexone in a dosis of 50 mg/day and did not show SIB over a follow‐up period of 32 weeks. Conclusion: Naltrexone could be effective in reducing SIB in patients with psychiatric disorders by blocking the positive reinforcement of SIB, which is reached by the release of endogenous opioides. Placebo‐controlled studies of the efficacy of naltrexone in treating SIB should be undertaken.