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Biomedical subjects

W M Verhoeven

Publications and source records attributed to W M Verhoeven.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Ceruletide resembles antipsychotics in rats and schizophrenic patients. Preliminary report.

Peptides related to the C-terminal part of cholecystokinin, including ceruletide, were found to be active in a number of behavioral test procedures in rats, predicting antipsychotic action. In a subsequent clinical trial ceruletide was administered intramuscularly in a dose of 40 micrograms twice for 2 consecutive weeks to 6 neuroleptic-treated schizophrenic patients following a single-blind design. In 3 patients, a pronounced long-lasting antipsychotic effect was observed, while in the other 3 the response was less marked. It is suggested that ceruletide may be a potential antipsychotic peptide.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

[Biological determinants of schizophrenic psychoses].

In this article the biological factors i.e. neuropathological/structural and biochemical, involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia are reviewed. Particularly the endorphin hypothesis, which states that disturbances in the fragmentation of beta-endorphin are implicated in schizophrenia, is emphasized. The concept of type I and type II schizophrenia, disturbances in the serine-glycine metabolism and the neuropeptide strategy are currently under investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

[Psychopharmacologic treatment of cognitive function disorders in aging persons: current possibilities].

No class of presently available drugs is able to alleviate the cognitive deficits which accompany senile dementia. The present article critically reviews the strategies which have until now been used to treat these deficits. A description is given of the cognitive deficits which are commonly seen and of the cerebral substrate underlying memory processes. Furthermore, the various treatment strategies are critically reviewed as well as the rationale behind the use of the currently available drugs. It is concluded that no clinically significant improvement of cognitive disturbances can be obtained with the present available drugs. The neuropeptide strategy however may reveal new pharmacotherapeutic possibilities in the near future.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1984

[Differential diagnosis of anxiety states and depressive syndromes].

Recently the diagnosis and pharmacotherapy of the mixed anxiety-depression syndrome has gained new interest by the development and introduction of classification systems and second generation antidepressants respectively. In this article the terminology, diagnosis and pharmacotherapy of the mixed anxiety-depression syndrome is mentioned.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗
PubMed1982

Antipsychotic properties of Des-enkephalin-gamma-endorphin in treatment of schizophrenic patients.

Animal experiments have shown that the gamma-endorphin fragment des-enkephalin-gamma-endorphin (DE gamma E; beta-lipotropin 66-77) is the shortest sequence with neuroleptic-like activity with potency comparable to des-tyrosine-gamma-endorphin. We postulated that DE gamma E may be an endogenous peptide implicated in psychopathologic disease, particularly schizophrenia. To investigate the purported antipsychotic action of DE gamma E, 23 patients with different types of relapsing schizophrenia were treated with DE gamma E dissolved in saline or placebo. Neuroleptic medication was continued during the experimental period. In the first single-blind trial, two patients were treated with 1 mg of DE gamma E and two with 10 mg of DE gamma E intramuscularly (IM) daily for ten days. In the second double-blind placebo-controlled trial 13 patients were treated with 3 mg of DE gamma E IM daily for ten days and six received placebo. Of the 17 patients treated with DE gamma E, two did not respond, 11 had a slight to moderate effect, and four responded markedly. No side effects were observed. The response to DE gamma E appeared to be negatively correlated with the dosage of neuroleptic medication and the duration of the last psychotic episode. These results support the hypothesis that disturbances in gamma-endorphin fragmentation might contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenic psychoses.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Hla, and the response to treatment with gamma-type endorphins in schizophrenia.

In order to investigate whether genetic factors are involved in the response of schizophrenic patients to treatment with gamma-type endorphins, we typed 32 Dutch schizophrenic patients for the HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR antigens. The total patient group showed an increase of HLA-Bw4 and HLA-Cw1. A subgroup of 20 paranoid patients showed an increase of HLA-Cw1 and a significant heterogeneity for the HLA-C locus. In 16 patients who responded moderately or markedly to treatment with gamma-type endorphins, an increase of HLA-B15/Cw3 and a decrease of HLA-B17 were found as compared to 16 patients with no or a slight response. Moreover, HLA-B15 was particularly increased in those patients who responded markedly and remained free of psychotic symptoms for a period of at least 6 months after treatment with gamma-type endorphins (RR = 24.6, Puncorr. = 0.0015). Our results suggest that genetic factors coded for within the HLA region are associated with paranoid schizophrenia, and that HLA-B15/Cw3 is associated with a marked and prolonged response to treatment with gamma-type endorphins.

Endorphins↗
PubMed1982

The treatment of schizophrenic psychoses with gamma-type endorphins.

The pharmacological actions of gamma-type endorphins show similarities to those of the neuroleptics. Two fragments of gamma-endorphin (beta-LPH 61-77) were therefore tested in patients with schizophrenic and schizo-affective psychoses who had shown an insufficient response to neuroleptics. The fragments were DT gamma E (beta-LPH 62-77) and DE gamma E (beta-LPH 66-77). Some of the patients studied responded favorably to this treatment. A number of criteria of differentiation between responders and nonresponders are discussed. The influence of DT gamma E on the central DA metabolism differs from that of the neuroleptics. It is therefore conceivable that gamma-type endorphins represent a different principle of action. The therapeutic efficacy of these compounds lends support to the hypothesis that disorders of central endorphin metabolism may play a role in the pathogenesis of psychoses of the schizophrenic type.

Brain↗
PubMed1981

The effects of haloperidol on the EEG spectrum.

A placebo-controlled study with six normal volunteers was carried out using 1 mg haloperidol IM. In some EEG frequency bands, the power density due to haloperidol appeared to increase or decrease depending on the subject. Nevertheless, if the results of the six subjects are taken together, the effects of haloperidol are in agreement with the literature. No correlation was found between plasma concentration of haloperidol and EEG response. Some methodological problems are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

(Des-tyrosine1)-gamma-endorphin in schizophrenia: clinical, biochemical, and hormonal aspects.

The neuropeptide (des-tyrosine1)-gamma-endorphin (DT gamma E; beta-LPH 62-77) was given to 10 schizophrenic patients who had been free of neuroleptic medication for at least 3 weeks. DT gamma E was injected intramuscularly in a dose of 1 mg daily for 10 days following a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design. In 4 of the 10 patients a pronounced antipsychotic effect was observed; in 3 a temporary or slight reduction of psychotic symptoms occurred; and in 3 no response was noted. DT gamma E led to decreased plasma levels of prolactin and in some patients to increased concentrations of homovanillic acid in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Neither plasma levels of growth hormone and cortisol nor CSF concentrations of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were affected by DT gamma E. These data confirm that DT gamma E has antipsychotic properties in a number of schizophrenic patients and suggest an interaction between DT gamma E and central dopaminergic systems.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Use of naloxone in schizophrenic psychoses and manic syndromes.

Since 1975, different morphinomimetic peptides have been isolated from hypophyseal-hypothalamic extracts: the pentapeptides methionine-enkephalin and leucine-enkephalin, and the longer peptides alpha-, beta- and gamma-endorphin. The primary structure of most of these peptides is also present in that of beta-lipotropin. The morphinomimetic properties of endorphins can be blocked with opiate-antagonists. In rats, moreover, the endorphins influence behavior which cannot be blocked with opiate antagonists. On the basis of the hypothesis that hyperactivity of endorphin systems may be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and manic syndromes, the effect of opiate antagonists on psychotic and manic symptoms has been examined in a number of clinical studies in the past few years. A transient therapeutic effect has been demonstrated in about 30% of the patients so treated. Our own double-blind controlled study of 5 schizophrenic and 5 manic patients in the context of a World Health Organization project failed to reveal any therapeutic effect after subcutaneous injection of 20 mg naloxone. The possible reasons of the negative results are discussed.

Affective Disorders, Psychotic↗
PubMed1981

[Mechanism of action and indications for psychopharmaceutic agents; possibilities and limitations in the elderly].

This article comprises a systematic ans schematic survey of neuroleptics and antidepressants, their mode of action in the central nervous system, indications and side-effects. Psychic disorders in the aged may be due to anatomical cerebral lesions, but they may be also "functional'. Both types of disorders are concisely described. The possibilities and limitations of treatment with psychotropic drugs are reviewed and special attention is given to the specific problems of this type of therapy in patients of advanced age. It is pointed out that psychic disorders in the aged are multiconditional and that psychopharmacotherapy is just one component of the treatment. The neuropeptide concept is described. The putative clinical significances of neuropeptides derived from ACTH, vasopressin and beta-endorphin (e.g. DTgammaE) are mentioned with respect to learning- and memory processes and schizophrenia.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗