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Des-Tyrosine--Endorphin Administration in Chronic Schizophrenics

A Preliminary Report

Carol A. Tamminga, MD; Patti J. Tighe, MD; Thomas N. Chase, MD; E. Gerard DeFraites, MD; Martin H. Schaffer, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1981;38(2):167-168.

Abstract
• The β-lipotrophin fragment des-tyrosine--endorphin (DTE) has been reported to have antipsychotic properties. We administered the compound without other psychoactive drugs to a subpopulation of schizophrenic subjects. Male patients with chronic psychotic illness and previous long-term neuroleptic therapy were given DTE at a similar dose and duration of treatment that have been reported to be effective. No improvement in psychotic symptoms occurred; plasma prolactin level, a parameter characteristically altered by neuroleptic treatment, did not change. The beneficial effects of DTE in schizophrenia may be specific to a diagnostic category, may be dependent on past pharmacologic treatment, or may occur only in combination with other drugs.

Author Affiliations
From the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, Baltimore (Drs Tamminga and DeFraites); the Experimental Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md (Dr Tamminga, Chase, and DeFraites); and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago (Drs Tighe and Schaffer).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Oct 22, 1980.

Reprint requests to Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, PO Box 3235, Baltimore, MD 21228 (Dr Tamminga).

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