BENEFICIAL-EFFECTS OF NALMEFENE AUGMENTATION IN NEUROLEPTIC-STABILIZED SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

It was postulated that chronic blockade of the opioid system in neurol eptic-stabilized schizophrenic patients would have a beneficial behavi oral effect. Eleven neuroleptic-stabilized psychotic inpatients receiv ed augmentation with nalmefene for an average of 36.7 days in a double -blind placebo-controlled study. The patients exhibited significant re ductions in Bunney-Hamburg psychosis ratings and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale thinking disturbance subscale during the augmentation pe riod. This study presents preliminary data supporting the hypothesis t hat chronic augmentation of neuroleptic-stabilized schizophrenic patie nts with opiate antagonists is beneficial.