pituitrin and Phobic-Disorders

Oxytocin and vasopressin are regulators of anxiety, stress-coping, and sociality. They are released within hypothalamic and limbic areas from dendrites, axons, and perikarya independently of, or coordinated with, secretion from neurohypophysial terminals. Central oxytocin exerts anxiolytic and antidepressive effects, whereas vasopressin tends to show anxiogenic and depressive actions. Evidence from pharmacological and genetic association studies confirms their involvement in individual variation of emotional traits extending to psychopathology. Based on their opposing effects on emotional behaviors, we propose that a balanced activity of both brain neuropeptide systems is important for appropriate emotional behaviors. Shifting the balance between the neuropeptide systems towards oxytocin, by positive social stimuli and/or psychopharmacotherapy, may help to improve emotional behaviors and reinstate mental health.

Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Administration, Intranasal; Animals; Anxiety; Brain Chemistry; Depression; Emotions; Female; Homeostasis; Humans; Hypothalamus; Lactation; Limbic System; Male; Models, Biological; Oxytocin; Phobic Disorders; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Pregnancy; Receptors, Oxytocin; Receptors, Vasopressin; Reproduction; Rodentia; Social Behavior; Vasopressins

Animal studies point to the role of two neuropeptides-oxytocin and vasopressin-in the regulation of affiliative behaviors including mating, pair-bond formation, maternal/parenting behavior, and attachment. These findings may have important implications for understanding and treating clinical disorders marked by social deficits and/or disrupted attachment. This review focuses on advances made to date in the effort to forge links between basic and clinical research in the area of neuropeptides and social behavior. The literature on oxytocin and its involvement in stress response, affiliation, and prosocial behavior is reviewed, and the implications of these findings for such disorders as autism as well as other social and stress-related disorders including social phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and some personality disorders are considered. Finally, unresolved issues and directions for future research are discussed.

Topics: Animals; Autistic Disorder; Humans; Oxytocin; Personality Disorders; Phobic Disorders; Social Behavior; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Stress, Psychological; Vasopressins