Therapeutic methods and compositions for the treatment of impaired interpersonal and behavioral disorders

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of psychopharmacology. More particularly, the invention relates to the treatment of DSM-III disorders, such as impaired interpersonal and behavioral disorders, including sexual disorders such as M.E.D. and H.S.D.D. The invention provides new therapeutic compositions and methods for treating DSM-III disorders, including M.E.D. and H.S.D.D. The compositions and methods according to the invention provide improved awareness and alertness to environment, improved adaptation to environment and ability to sustain attention, and increased interest in environment and capacity for arousal, without increased aggressiveness.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a DSM-III disorder comprising administering to a mammal having a DSM-III disorder an amount of a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4, or a peptidomimetic thereof, that is sufficient to reduce or eliminate symptoms of the DSM-III disorder.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the DSM-III disorder is an avoidance disorder.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the DSM-III disorder is a decreased awareness disorder.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the disorder includes elements of an autistic disorder.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the DSM-III disorder is an attention deficit disorder.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the DSM-III disorder is an arousal disorder.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the disorder is hospitalism.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the DSM-III disorder is impaired interpersonal functioning and relationship to the external world.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the DSM-III disorder is schizoid personality disorder.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the DSM-III disorder is schizophrenia or a depressive disorder.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the DSM-III disorder is decreased interest in environment.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the DSM-III disorder is impaired social activity linked to sexuality.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the DSM-III disorder is impaired sexual behavior including untimely ejaculation.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the impaired sexual behavior is hypoactive sexual desire disorder.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the DSM-III disorder comprises symptoms of more than one DSM-III disorder.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to any of claims  1 - 15 , wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic is administered, together with a second pharmaceutical agent, wherein the second pharmaceutical agent is present in an amount insufficient to reduce or eliminate symptoms of the DSM-III disorder, and wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic according to the invention and the second pharmaceutical agent act synergistically to reduce or eliminate symptoms of the DSM-III disorder.  
     
     
         17 . The method of any of claims  1 - 16 , wherein the route of administration is selected from parenteral, intranasal, oral, sublingual, transmucosal, intrarespiratory, or through an inert or iontophoretic patch.  
     
     
         18 . A therapeutic composition comprising a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4, or a peptidomimetic thereof, in an amount sufficient to reduce or eliminate symptoms of a DSM-III disorder in a mammal having the DSM-III disorder, and further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent and/or buffer and/or excipient.  
     
     
         19 . The therapeutic composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the therapeutic composition is useful in preparing a medicament for the treatment of an avoidance disorder.  
     
     
         20 . The therapeutic composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the therapeutic composition is useful in preparing a medicament for the treatment of a decreased awareness disorder.  
     
     
         21 . The therapeutic composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the therapeutic composition is useful in preparing a medicament for the treatment of an attention deficit disorder.  
     
     
         22 . The therapeutic composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the therapeutic composition is useful in preparing a medicament for the treatment of an arousal disorder.  
     
     
         23 . The therapeutic composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the therapeutic composition is useful in preparing a medicament for the treatment of impaired interpersonal functioning and relationship to the external world.  
     
     
         24 . The therapeutic composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the therapeutic composition is useful in preparing a medicament for the treatment of impaired social activity linked to sexuality.  
     
     
         25 . The therapeutic composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the therapeutic composition is useful in preparing a medicament for the treatment of impaired sexual behavior.  
     
     
         26 . The therapeutic composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the therapeutic composition is useful in preparing a medicament for the treatment of symptoms of more than one DSM-III disorder.  
     
     
         27 . The therapeutic composition according to any of claims  18 - 26 , wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic is present in the therapeutic composition, together with a second pharmaceutical agent, wherein the second pharmaceutical agent is present in an amount insufficient to reduce or eliminate symptoms of the DSM-III disorder, and wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic according to the invention and the second pharmaceutical agent act synergistically to reduce or eliminate symptoms of the DSM-III disorder.  
     
     
         28 . The therapeutic composition of any of claims  18 - 27 , wherein the therapeutic composition is in the form of a solid, a liquid, a gel, an aerosol, or a sustained release formulation.