Effects of the synthetic analogue of methionine enkephalin FK 33-824 on psychotic symptoms.

In an open pilot study, 9 schizophrenic patients were treated with the synthetic analogue of methionin-enkephalin FK 33-824 on two consecutive days in a dose of 0.5 mg on the first day, and 1.0 mg on the second day (infusion for 2 hours). 3 patients refused therapy during or after the first infusion; of the remaining 6 patients (2 hebephrenic, 4 paranoid type) 5 patients improved remarkably on the first and second day. The total BPRS-score and 4 of the 5 factors of the BPRS-scale were reduced significantly the day after treatment compared to pretreatment values. The improvement continued for 28-168 hours.