PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W M Verhoeven

Publications and source records attributed to W M Verhoeven.

64 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Improvement of schizophrenic patients treated with [des-Tyr1]-gamma-endorphin (DTgammaE).

It was postulated from animal experiments that gamma-endorphin and, in particular, the nonopiate-like peptide [des-Tyr1]-gamma-endorphin (DTgammaE, beta-lipotropin [beta-LPH]62-77) have neurolepic-like activity. To test this, 14 patients with long-lasting, relapsing schizophrenic or schizoaffective psychosis resistant to conventional neuroleptics were treated with DTgammaE. An open design was used first for six patients (study 1) and a double-blind, crossover design for the other eight (study 2). In study 1, all neuroleptic medication was discontinued and 1 mg of DTgammaE zinc phosphate was given daily intramuscularly for about seven days. In study 2, six patients were maintained with neuroleptic therapy and two patients were drug free; all eight received daily intramuscular injections of 1 mg of nonlasting DTgammaE in saline and solution for eight days. There was transient or semipermanent improvement in both studies in which the psychotic symptoms diminished or even disappeared. In study 2, there was a slight but significant improvement with the first treatment. Improvement continued and by day 4, the psychotic symptoms had almost disappeared. No toxic side effects were noted. These effects of DTgammaE may be a consequence of the normalization of beta-endorphin homeostasis in the brain.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Atypical neuroleptics. Review of the available clinical data].

Pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia in based in the hypothesis that disturbances in central dopaminergic (DA) systems, i.e. increased DA-activity in the mesolimbic system, are involved in the pathogenesis of these psychotic disorders. Since neuroleptics exert a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, during the last decade efforts have been undertaken to develop new antipsychotics, separating their antipsychotic action from their extrapyramidal (EPS) effects. Neuroleptics with this kind of properties have been designated atypical, although being a rather heterogenous group. In fact, some of the atypical antipsychotics are selective with respect to neurotransmitter system or regional brain activity like the benzamides, while others are non-selective at all such as the dibenzodiazepine derivate clozapine, and interfere with different receptor systems. In general, the atypical antipsychotics can be divided among two groups: DA-selective compounds and receptor non-specific agents. Of the DA-selective compounds, the group of the benzamides form a distinct chemical class, of which sulpiride has been the most thoroughly investigated, followed by remoxipride. Concerning the antipsychotic effects of the benzamides, sulpiride as well as remoxipride have been demonstrated to be equipotent as compared to classical neuroleptics like chlorpromazine and haloperidol, without however inducing either EPS or anticholinergic symptoms of importance. With respect to the dibenzodiazepine derivate clozapine, it has been demonstrated that this compound has not only potent antipsychotic properties but, more important, may be effective in severely ill treatment resistant patients, without most probably the risk of inducing EPS. Finally, the series of compounds, characterized by serotonin -S2- and dopamine -D2- antagonistic properties may be of importance, albeit they do not meet the presently common definition of atypicality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Negative symptoms and schizophrenia. A concise review of clinical and pharmacotherapeutic data].

A historical review is given of the origins of the concepts of negative symptoms. An outline is given of the conceptual difficulties inherent to the negative syndrome, especially influences related to post psychotic depressed patients, neuroleptic treatment and institutionalization are critically reviewed. Subsequently pathophysiological and etiological theories of negative symptoms are reviewed and discussed. The last part of this article contains a discussion of therapeutical strategies in the treatment of negative symptoms. Firstly dopamine agonist strategies are discussed, secondly the role of neuropeptides (vasopressin and TRH) in the treatment of negative symptoms is discussed and a putative therapeutic role for these peptides is suggested.

Brain↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Potential therapeutic action of neuropeptides in depressive syndromes].

Since the discovery of peptides in hypophysis and brain, several classes of these peptides have been tested on their putative antidepressive properties. The clinical research was stimulated both by the symptomatology of depressive disorders and the demonstrated neuro-endocrine disturbances which frequently occur in such syndromes, and the data obtained in investigations of CSF, blood and post-mortem material. In this concise review, attention will be focused only upon the results from clinical studies with releasing and release-inhibiting factors and hypophysial hormones respectively.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Endorphins of the gamma type in the treatment of schizophrenic psychoses].

Since the discovery of the endorphins, several hypotheses have been formulated concerning their involvement in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In this article, the hypothesis concerning disturbances in the fragmentation of beta-endorphin is mentioned with special reference to the antipsychotic properties of gamma-type endorphins.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diagnostic evaluation of the concept of schizophrenia].

Since the original description of dementia praecox by Kraepelin, a variety of psychotic syndromes have been described which have features in common with the so-called schizophrenic psychoses. In this article, the development of the concept of schizophrenia and the currently available diagnostic and classification systems are mentioned.

Diagnosis, Differential↗