Serum Beta-endorphin Levels Research Articles

α‐θ Brainwave Training and β‐Endorphin Levels in Alcoholics

An alpha-theta brainwave biofeedfack training program was applied as a novel treatment technique for chronic alcoholics. Following a temperature biofeedback pretraining phase, experimental subjects completed 15 30-min sessions of alpha-theta biofeedback training. Compared to a nonalcoholic control group and a traditionally treated alcoholic control group, alcoholics receiving brainwave training (BWT) showed significant increases in percentages of EEG record in alpha and theta rhythms, and increased alpha rhythm amplitudes. Alcoholics receiving BWT showed a gradual increase in alpha and theta brain rhythms across the 15 experimental sessions. These experimentally treated alcoholics showed sharp reductions in self-assessed depression (Beck's Depression Inventory) compared to the control groups. Alcoholics receiving standard medical treatment (abstinence, group psychotherapy, antidepressants) showed a significant elevation in serum beta-endorphin levels at the conclusion of the experiment. This neuropeptide is an index of stress and a stimulant of caloric (e.g., ethanol) intake. Application of brainwave treatment, a relaxation therapy, appears to counteract the increase in circulating beta-endorphin levels seen in the control group of alcoholics. 13-month follow-up data indicate sustained prevention of relapse in alcoholics that completed alpha-theta brainwave training.

Serum ??-endorphin levels during a graded exercise test to exhaustion

Serum beta-endorphin levels during a graded exercise test to exhaustion. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 78-82, 1987. Nine untrained college age males completed a graded exercise protocol to maximal capacity on a bicycle ergometer to determine if there was a relationship between intensity of exercise and serum beta-endorphin (beta-EP) levels. Subjects fasted for 12 h and abstained from physical activity at least 24 h prior to testing. Subjects completed the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List prior to and following exercise to ascertain if psychological state would be associated with beta-EP levels. The initial workload was 150 kilopond meters and was increased 150 kilopond meters every 3 min until VO2max or leg fatigue occurred. Expired gases were continuously analyzed, and a venous blood sample was drawn from an indwelling catheter during the final 30 s of each stage and 5-min post-exercise. beta-EP levels were determined from serum using a radioimmunoassay technique and corrected for cross-reactivity with beta-lipotropin using affinity chromatography. Resting beta-EP levels were 25.3 +/- 4.1 pg X ml-1 and did not demonstrate significant changes during any stage of exercise. A correlation analysis (r = 0.30) revealed no significant relationship between exercise intensity and beta-EP levels. Following exercise, beta-EP levels were significantly increased compared to resting values (38.8 +/- 4.8 pg X ml-1). In addition, psychological state was unaffected by exercise despite significant increases in recovery beta-EP levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Psychopathologic changes in chronic schizophrenic patients following withdrawal of neuroleptics: relation to therapeutic, neuroendocrine and computer tomography variables

The following data were obtained from 36 male chronic schizophrenics (ICD 295.6) of 47 +/- 11 years of age, treated with neuroleptics for the last 16 +/- 6 years: Age, age at first manifestation of disease, duration and dosage scheme of neuroleptic therapy and number of electroconvulsive shock treatments. Blood samples were drawn both under neuroleptic treatment and after a 12-day withdrawal of neuroleptics, for determining cortisol, prolactin, beta-endorphin and noradrenaline. Psychopathology was assessed by standard criteria via BPRS. In 27 patients CT determination was carried out to determine the breadth of the third ventricle and the ventricular brain ratio. Withdrawal of neuroleptics resulted in a marked improvement, whereas 11 patients showed pronounced deterioration of their psychotic symptoms. In respect of the entire group there was a significant improvement of anergy, while disturbances of thinking were significantly enhanced. Serum levels of beta-endorphin and cortisol increased after neuroleptic withdrawal, whereas the levels of prolactin and of noradrenaline dropped. A considerable proportion of the patients showed a distinct extension of the ventricular system, but the CT variables correlated only slight with psychopathological parameters or their changes after neuroleptic withdrawal. The other variables, too, were without clinically relevant prognostic importance compared with the psychopathological changes after neuroleptic withdrawal. These variables were e.g. demography, psychopathology, therapy and neuroendocrinology.