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Endogenous Opioids/Endorphins/Enkephalin

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Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine

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Synonyms

Dynorphins; Endogenous morphine; Endomorphins; Opiate neuropeptides; Opiate peptides; Opiate receptors

Definition

Endogenous opioids are neuropeptides with morphine-like activity that are naturally synthesized within the body. These neuropeptides have widespread distribution throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems, and various endocrine and other tissues. Opioids function as neurotransmitters and hormones, with a wide variety of biobehavioral effects in health and disease. Their effects on physiological and psychological responses to intense aversive and appetitive stimuli suggest potentially important roles in the etiology and treatment of self-regulatory disorders of appetite, affect, and adaptation to stress.

Description

Classification of Opioid Peptides and Receptors

Endogenous opioids systems include several different neuroactive peptides that are linked, in turn, to a matrix of distinctive receptor systems. The opioid peptides are divided into basic...

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References and Further Reading

  • Bruehl, S., McCubbin, J. A., & Harden, R. N. (1999). Theoretical review: Altered pain regulatory systems in chronic pain. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 23, 877–890.

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  • McCubbin, J. A. (1993). Stress and endogenous opioids: Behavioral and circulatory interactions. Biological Psychology, 35(2), 91–122.

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  • McCubbin, J. A., Wilson, J. F., Bruehl, S., Ibarra, P., Carlson, C. R., Norton, J. A., et al. (1996). Relaxation training and opioid inhibition of blood pressure response to stress. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(3), 593–601.

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  • Merenlender-Wagner, A., Dikshtein, Y., & Yadid, G. (2009). The beta-endorphin role in stress-related psychiatric disorders. Current Drug Targets, 10(11), 1096–1108.

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  • Reece, A. S. (2011). Hypothalamic opioid-melanocortin appetitive balance and addictive craving. Medical Hypotheses, 76(1), 132–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2010.09.002.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA

    James A. McCubbin

Authors
  1. James A. McCubbin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James A. McCubbin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Marc Gellman

Section Editor information

  1. University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, USA

    Mustafa al’Absi

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McCubbin, J.A. (2019). Endogenous Opioids/Endorphins/Enkephalin. In: Gellman, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_247-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_247-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6

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