Effect of the nature of subsequent environment on oxytocin and cortisol secretion in maltreated children
Childhood maltreatment (CM), including abuse and neglect is a crucial factor that distorts child development. CM is associated with alterations in numerous brain regions, and may be associated with neuropeptide hormonal dysregulation. This study aimed to investigate differences in secretion patterns...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2015-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00173/full |
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| author | Sakae G. Mizushima Takashi X. Fujisawa Shinichiro eTakiguchi Hirokazu eKumazaki Shiho eTanaka Akemi eTomoda Akemi eTomoda |
| author_facet | Sakae G. Mizushima Takashi X. Fujisawa Shinichiro eTakiguchi Hirokazu eKumazaki Shiho eTanaka Akemi eTomoda Akemi eTomoda |
| author_sort | Sakae G. Mizushima |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Childhood maltreatment (CM), including abuse and neglect is a crucial factor that distorts child development. CM is associated with alterations in numerous brain regions, and may be associated with neuropeptide hormonal dysregulation. This study aimed to investigate differences in secretion patterns of cortisol (CT) and oxytocin (OT) among children who experienced CM, children living in residential care facilities and in unstable environments. Among 38 maltreated children, 23 (mean age = 12.2 years, SD = 3.0) were categorized as Settled and 15 (mean age = 13.1 years, SD = 2.2) as Unsettled. Twenty-six age- and gender-matched (mean age = 12.6 years, SD = 2.1), typically developing (TD) children were also included. Clinical and psychological assessments, including IQ and trauma evaluations were conducted for all participants. Age, gender and full-scale IQ were used as covariates in hormone analysis. Two saliva samples were collected, one on awakening, the other at bedtime. There were significant differences in the awakening CT levels of the Unsettled group, and in bedtime OT levels in the Settled group as compared with TD children, and between CM groups. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in trauma-symptomatic depression scores between the Settled and Unsettled CM group. These results suggest that CT diurnal secretions tend to be reactive to current stress rather previous experience. OT diurnal secretions are presumably hyper-regulated for coping with the environment to survive and thrive. By measuring salivary CT/OT diurnal patterns, hormonal dysregulation of CM children living in Settled environments and Unsettled environments was indicated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:22:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c3b3d0bb5fa34250b72d3e66787142a5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:22:39Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-c3b3d0bb5fa34250b72d3e66787142a52022-12-21T18:40:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402015-12-01610.3389/fpsyt.2015.00173159518Effect of the nature of subsequent environment on oxytocin and cortisol secretion in maltreated childrenSakae G. Mizushima0Takashi X. Fujisawa1Shinichiro eTakiguchi2Hirokazu eKumazaki3Shiho eTanaka4Akemi eTomoda5Akemi eTomoda6University of FukuiResearch Center for Child Mental Development, University of FukuiResearch Center for Child Mental Development, University of FukuiResearch Center for Child Mental Development, University of FukuiResearch Center for Child Mental Development, University of FukuiResearch Center for Child Mental Development, University of FukuiUniversity of FukuiChildhood maltreatment (CM), including abuse and neglect is a crucial factor that distorts child development. CM is associated with alterations in numerous brain regions, and may be associated with neuropeptide hormonal dysregulation. This study aimed to investigate differences in secretion patterns of cortisol (CT) and oxytocin (OT) among children who experienced CM, children living in residential care facilities and in unstable environments. Among 38 maltreated children, 23 (mean age = 12.2 years, SD = 3.0) were categorized as Settled and 15 (mean age = 13.1 years, SD = 2.2) as Unsettled. Twenty-six age- and gender-matched (mean age = 12.6 years, SD = 2.1), typically developing (TD) children were also included. Clinical and psychological assessments, including IQ and trauma evaluations were conducted for all participants. Age, gender and full-scale IQ were used as covariates in hormone analysis. Two saliva samples were collected, one on awakening, the other at bedtime. There were significant differences in the awakening CT levels of the Unsettled group, and in bedtime OT levels in the Settled group as compared with TD children, and between CM groups. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in trauma-symptomatic depression scores between the Settled and Unsettled CM group. These results suggest that CT diurnal secretions tend to be reactive to current stress rather previous experience. OT diurnal secretions are presumably hyper-regulated for coping with the environment to survive and thrive. By measuring salivary CT/OT diurnal patterns, hormonal dysregulation of CM children living in Settled environments and Unsettled environments was indicated.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00173/fullHormonesOxytocincortisolchild maltreatmentResidential care facility |
| spellingShingle | Sakae G. Mizushima Takashi X. Fujisawa Shinichiro eTakiguchi Hirokazu eKumazaki Shiho eTanaka Akemi eTomoda Akemi eTomoda Effect of the nature of subsequent environment on oxytocin and cortisol secretion in maltreated children Frontiers in Psychiatry Hormones Oxytocin cortisol child maltreatment Residential care facility |
| title | Effect of the nature of subsequent environment on oxytocin and cortisol secretion in maltreated children |
| title_full | Effect of the nature of subsequent environment on oxytocin and cortisol secretion in maltreated children |
| title_fullStr | Effect of the nature of subsequent environment on oxytocin and cortisol secretion in maltreated children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of the nature of subsequent environment on oxytocin and cortisol secretion in maltreated children |
| title_short | Effect of the nature of subsequent environment on oxytocin and cortisol secretion in maltreated children |
| title_sort | effect of the nature of subsequent environment on oxytocin and cortisol secretion in maltreated children |
| topic | Hormones Oxytocin cortisol child maltreatment Residential care facility |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00173/full |
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