This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. Introduction: Self-injurious behavior (SIB) may be defined as any self-directed behavior that results in tissue injury. The condition occurs in approximately 5-13% of the captive rhesus macaque population with self-biting being the most common expression of the behavior. Additionally, SIB is a significant human health problem, which interestingly occurs in 4% of the general public. Currently, there are no widely accepted treatments for human or nonhuman primate SIB. However, studies with human and nonhuman primates have shown that therapeutic drugs used to treat alcoholism and drug abuse, such as oral naltrexone hydrochloride, are effective in reducing the occurrence of SIB. To date, there have been no studies examining the value of Vivitrol, a long-acting 30 day injectable naltrexone, for the treatment of human or nonhuman primate SIB. A focused study using Vivitrol for SIB may open the exploration of a novel use for Vivitrol in both research facilities and the general public. Methods: Group 1 (n=4): Adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were enrolled in a 4-week pharmacokinetic study. Therapeutic levels of 2ng/ml plasma were maintained 21-28 days post-injection. Group 2 (n=10): Adult male and female macaques with documented self-injurious behavior were enrolled in a treatment study. In the first four week phase baseline behavior was established. Two injections of Vivitrol were administered with a four week interval between injections. This phase was followed by an additional 4 week post-treatment baseline period. All observations were made through video recording and coding (Observer 9XT) according to an established ethogram. Blood samples were collected at the time of each Vivitrol injection and at seven day intervals until the end of the study for therapeutic range data analysis. Results: Observational data is currently being analyzed.
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