The effect of neuroleptic treatment and of high dosage diazepam therapy onβ-endorphin immunoreactivity in plasma of schizophrenic patients

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Abstract
In 14 schizophrenic patients, treated with neuroleptic drugs, and in 7 patients, treated with high-dosage diazepam,β-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in plasma has been measured by use of a highly sensitive and relatively specific radioimmunoassay. Neuroleptic treatment induced a significant increase ofβ-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (β-ELI). The pharmacological and clinical implications of this finding are discussed. High-dosage diazepam treatment induces a slight reduction of plasmaβ-ELI, a finding which is attributed to antistress effect of diazepam.