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document
[ Opiate hypothesis in infantile autism ? Therapeutic trials with naltrexone ] . The opioid hypothesis suggests that childhood autism may result from excessive brain opioid activity during neonatal period which may constitutionally inhibit social motivation , yielding autistic isolation and aloofness ( Panksepp , 1979 ) . This hypothesis has now received strong support and is currently based on three types of arguments : ( 1 ) similarity between autistic symptomatology and abnormal behaviors induced in young animals by injections of exogenous opioids , such as increasing social aloofness and decreasing social vocalization ; ( 2 ) direct biochemical evidence of abnormalities of peripheral endogenous opioids being reported in autism and ( 3 ) therapeutic effects of the long lasting opioid receptor blocking agent naltrexone in autism . In this article , we give description of open and double-blind studies of naltrexone in autism . Naltrexone has been tested in several open studies . We performed an open trial with naltrexone in 2 autistic girls , displaying serious self-injurious behavior , reduced crying and a marked preference for salty and spicy foods , symptoms that could be related to a dysfunction of the opioid system . With dosages of 1 mg/kg/day , we observed an immediate reduction of hyperactivity , self-injurious behavior and aggressiveness , while attention improved . In addition , social behaviors , smiling , social seeking behaviors and play interactions increased ( Leboyer , Bouvard et Dugas , 1988 ) . Campbell et al . ( 1988 ) has also reported a tranquilizing and a stimulating effect in 6 out of 8 children with autism . We did confirm these preliminary results in a double-blind study performed on 4 children with autism . In a cross-over double-blind study , three dosages of naltrexone ( 0.5 , 1 and 2 mg/kg/day ) and placebo were compared . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS )
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Intervention_Pharmacological
naltrexone ]
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Intervention_Pharmacological
naltrexone
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Naltrexone
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Intervention_Pharmacological
naltrexone
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Outcome_Mental
reduction of hyperactivity , self-injurious behavior and aggressiveness , while attention improved
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Outcome_Mental
social behaviors , smiling , social seeking behaviors and play interactions
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Outcome_Mental
tranquilizing and a stimulating effect
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Participant_Condition
infantile autism
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Participant_Sample-size
2
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Participant_Condition
autistic
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Participant_Sex
girls
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Participant_Condition
displaying serious self-injurious behavior
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Participant_Condition
reduced crying
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Participant_Condition
marked preference for salty and spicy foods
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Participant_Sample-size
4
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Participant_Age
children