UI - 000001

AU - Atkinson JH

AU - Kremer EF

AU - Risch SC

AU - Bloom FE

TI - Neuroendocrine function and endogenous opioid peptide systems in chronic pain

AB - IN: U California-San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla LA: English AB: Reviews the literature on

neuroendocrine abnormalities in patients with chronic pain syndrome, with an emphasis on evidence in this

population of (a) failure to suppress plasma cortisol concentration in the low-dose dexamethasone

suppression test (DST) and (b) elevated opioid peptide immunoreactivity. 24 chronic pain patients (aged 32-

82 yrs) were administered the DST, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Hamilton Rating Scale for

Depression. Results suggest that endogenous opioid peptide system disfunction and neuroendocrine

abnormalities occur regularly in chronic pain patients. It is concluded that further study of the DST could

lead to its being of predictive value for responses to behavioral intervention or pharmacologic treatment. (31

ref) (PsycLIT Database Copyright 1985 American Psychological Assn, all rights reserved) KP: endogenous

opioid peptide system dysfunction & neuroendocrine abnormalities; 32-82 yr old chronic pain patients AN:

72-01628

SO - Psychosomatics 1983;24:899-913