SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “SOCIAL ISOLATION”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

Blockage of histamine H1 receptor attenuates social isolation-induced disruption of prepulse inhibition: a study in H1 receptor gene knockout mice.

RATIONALE: Histaminergic neurotransmission has been implicated in the pathophysiology of stress-related psychiatric diseases. Although several atypical antipsychotics are potent H1 antagonists, the clinical significance of interaction between atypical antipsychotics and H1 receptors is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the effects of H1 receptors blockage on social isolation-induced behavioral changes in H1 receptor gene knockout (H1KO) mice and their wild-type (WT) mice. METHODS: Both H1KO and their WT mice were subjected to 4-week social isolation rearing after weaning (21 postnatal days). After the 4-week isolation period, mice behavioral changes were evaluated using behavioral tests. RESULTS: Locomotor activity in home cages was significantly lower in isolation-reared WT mice than in socially reared WT mice. However, no change in locomotor activity was observed between socially and isolation-reared H1KO mice. Social isolation significantly impaired prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle response in WT mice but not in H1KO mice. In addition, social isolation significantly impaired spatial learning and memory in WT mice but not in H1KO mice. Furthermore, H1KO mice treated with methamphetamine (METH) showed no enhancement in isolation-induced disruption of PPI. A neurochemical study revealed that isolation-reared WT mice had significantly lower dopamine (DA) levels and slightly increased DA turnover in the cortex than socially reared WT mice. Conversely, isolation-reared H1KO mice showed significantly higher DA contents as compared with socially reared H1KO mice. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that blockage of H1 receptor-mediated neurotransmission attenuates social isolation-induced behavioral changes and that the therapeutic effects of atypical antipsychotics are mediated, at least in part, by interaction with H1 receptors in the brain.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Prevalence of psychologic impairment in an advanced-age population.

Interviews were conducted in the homes of 200 persons aged 80 years or older; 100 lived in Vancouver and 100 in Victoria, B. C. Between 15 and 27 per cent showed psychologic impairment, as measured by self-reporting of symptoms, including use of prescribed psychotropic drugs. A comparison of those who were psychologically impaired with those who were psychologically healthy demonstrated that accidents, eye problems, and dearth of social contacts were significantly associated with the former group. In 74 per cent of the sample, activities were restricted in varying degrees because of health problems, and there was a surprising degree of social isolation. On the Social Interaction Index, low scores were significantly more common among the psychologically impaired, and a similar relationship between poor physical health and social isolation was demonstrated with a multiple regression analysis. The findings suggest that poor social interaction, particularly, and poor health may be predictors of psychologic distress. Extended family support is weakening, and planned programs are needed to improve the lifestyles of the aged and to prevent loneliness and alienation.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

Adolescent perceptions of help-seeking resources for substance abuse.

Adolescent perceptions of help-seeking social resources (e.g., parents, friends, school counselor, clergyman) they would utilize if they were having substance abuse difficulties were investigated for samples of early and middle adolescents. 8 different perceived help-seeking categories were identified, and intergroup comparisons were made with regard to gender and ethnic/racial group and with regard to alcohol consumption, substance-related problems, and school misconduct. 2 perceived help-seeking categories had the highest levels of problem behaviors. The first category consisted of adolescents who identified friends as the only social resource they would utilize if they were having substance abuse problems. The second category, referred to as social isolates, indicated that they would not utilize any social resource if they were having substance abuse problems. There were approximately twice as many male social isolates as female social isolates, and blacks and Hispanics were highly overrepresented in the social isolate category.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Immune responses in nucleus basalis magnocellularis-lesioned rats exposed to chronic isolation stress.

The present study was designed to establish the influence of chronic social isolation stress on humoral and cellular immunity in nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM)-lesioned rats. Therefore, ten days after bilateral electrolytic lesions of NBM, adult male Wistar rats were immunized with bovine serum albumin in complete Freund's adjuvant (BSA-CFA) and placed individually or in groups of five rats during 21 days. On days 10 and 21 after immunization, the Arthus and delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions to BSA as well as anti-BSA antibody production were determined. On day 10, the diameter and intensity of delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction to BSA were significantly higher in social-isolated rats in comparison with the group-reared ones. On day 21, the diameter and intensity of the Arthus skin reaction were significantly higher in social-isolated rats compared to group-reared rats. Between days 10 and 21, the diameter and intensity of the Arthus skin reaction significantly increased in social-isolated rats, while the diameter of delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction significantly decreased. In contrast to social-isolated rats, there were no significant differences in Arthus and delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions in group-reared rats, between days 10 and 21. Also there were no significant differences in the production of anti-BSA antibody between social-isolated and group-reared rats. The relative spleen weight was significantly lower in social-isolated rats. These data suggest that chronic isolation stress modify humoral and cellular immunity in NBM-lesioned rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Immune Responses in Nucleus Basalis Magnocellularis-Lesioned Rats Exposed to Chronic Isolation Stress.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Developmental isolation and subsequent adult behavior of Drosophila paulistorum. IV. Courtship.

Early social experiences play important roles in adult Drosophila paulistorum mate selection. Differences in courtship between control males and wholly socially isolated males were observed in chambers. Socially isolated males displayed more courtship toward virgin females than did controls. Socially isolated males were more successful in competing for mates. Yet socially isolated males from all six semispecies also displayed notable frequencies of homosexual behavior.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2004

Dying young, dying poor: a sociological examination of existential suffering among low-socioeconomic status patients.

Palliating the whole person requires that medicine attend more fully to the phenomenon of existential suffering. The role of social factors, in particular, is often overlooked in attempts to understand why end-of-life suffering does not always respond to physiologic, psychological, and spiritual interventions. Using qualitative data from in-depth interviews with 33 low socioeconomic status (SES) terminally ill patients with cancer, I examine how a sociological framework can provide insights on existential suffering at the end of life. Specifically, I discuss how dying "off time" in the life course, being exposed to the illness trajectories of others, and experiencing social isolation and social death contribute to existential suffering among the terminally ill.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1995

Definite and undetermined forensic diagnoses of suicide among immigrants in Sweden.

A total of 707 cases of violent death (suicide, undetermined mode or accident) occurring in 1990 were investigated at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Stockholm. The catchment area of the Department includes about 1.9 million people. Fourteen percent of the population in the area are immigrants. The largest single immigrant group was the 91,015 Finnish-born inhabitants, who represented 33% of the overall immigrant population. Thirty percent of all undetermined deaths and 20% of the suicides were among people born outside Sweden. A significant overrepresentation of the largest immigrant group (Finnish-born) was found in both the definite and undetermined suicide categories. There was also an overall overrepresentation of immigrants among the undetermined cases and a trend towards overrepresentation among definite suicides. Also, there was a significant overall overrepresentation of immigrants in the total cases of undetermined and definite suicide. Some psychosocial factors found predominant among the immigrant sample were social isolation, low social class and poor social network. The findings in this study indicates that immigrant status should be considered as a risk factor for suicide in Sweden. Previous reports on the high suicide rates among immigrants in Australia, Canada, Great Britain and the United States suggest that the overrepresentation of immigrants found in our study could represent a worldwide epidemiological trend related to voluntary and forced migration. Possible hypotheses that could explain this phenomenon are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Death in the West--a regional analysis of the youthful suicide rate.

A remarkable increase of youthful suicides over the past few years has caused the death rate for 15- to 24-year-old adolescents and young adults to rise while there has been a reduction in mortality for all other age groups. To analyze the geographic pattern of this youthful suicide epidemic, a national interstate analysis was done for the years 1964 through 1978. Results indicate a broad regional effect with high ratings of youthful suicide concentrated in the western United States, especially among states of the intermountain region. Statistical analysis shows a strong inverse relationship between youthful suicide and population density. Previous research in this area has usually related high population density (overcrowding) to social and behavioral pathology. The present research indicates, however, that low population density (undercrowding) can also have adverse effects. These undercrowding effects may occur because of social isolation, limited social services and loneliness.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Expression of Fos-like immunoreactivity in the brain of quail chick emitting the isolation-induced distress calls.

The social isolation intensively induces distress call in neonatal chicks of Japanese quail. The brain regions activated during the isolation were mapped using immunocytochemical detection of c-Fos (the product of immediate early gene c-fos). Fos-like immunoreactivity was observed in a variety of brain regions in isolated chicks that had emitted distress calls. The density of Fos-positive cells in dorso-medial mesencephalic areas (including the intercollicular nucleus and the central gray) was much higher than those of control animals that were kept in groups and emitted very few or no distress calls, whereas the distribution partially overlapped in isolated and control animals. These data, in addition to our lesion and stimulation studies, provide anatomical support for the involvement of the mesencephalic regions in generating distress calls during social isolation.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Effect of tricyclic antidepressant drugs in the isolation-induced social behavioural deficit test.

1. Mice were isolated for 7-9 days. An isolated mouse and a mouse reared in group show a difference in their behaviour when observed together under an inverted beaker. The isolated mouse makes one half escape attempts in regard to the grouped mouse. This is considered as a social behavioural deficit. 2. The effect of four tricyclic antidepressant drugs was tested on this social behavioural deficit. None of the following drugs acutely given: imipramine, desipramine, amitriptyline impaired the social behavioural deficit. Clomipramine reduced the deficit at the only dose of 2 mg/kg. The four antidepressants tended to increase the deficit at the high dose of 32 mg/kg but this may reflect a sedative effect. Chronic amitriptyline did not impair the social behavioural deficit. 3. It is concluded that acute and probably also chronic antidepressant treatments are without effect on the isolation induced social behavioural deficit test.

Amitriptyline↗

PubMed1998

Group well-child care for high-risk families: maternal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if participation in group sessions as part of health supervision visits for infants improves outcomes compared with individual visits in high-risk mothers. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Mothers of young infants who had at least 1 of the following risk factors: aged younger than 20 years at delivery, participation in Medicaid, less than a high school education, previous or ongoing substance abuse, or history of abuse as a child. SETTING: Two urban university pediatric clinics in Seattle, Wash. INTERVENTIONS: Mother-infant dyads were randomized to receive group well-child care (GWCC) or individual well-child care (IWCC) before the infant was 4 months old; the intervention continued until the child was 15 months old. Mothers completed the Sense of Competence and Social Isolation subscales from the Parenting Stress Index and Sarason's Social Support Questionnaire at enrollment and again on completion of the study. During the 11-month study period, 7 health supervision visits were scheduled for each mother-infant dyad. Social workers met periodically with mothers during the study and assessed the following functional outcomes: return to school, return to work, enrollment in a substance abuse treatment program, and becoming pregnant. In addition, data on study children were collected from Child Protective Services to assess referrals because of suspected abuse and/or neglect. RESULTS: Data were collected on 213 mother-infant dyads, including 108 who received GWCC and 105 who received IWCC. At the conclusion of the study period, similar proportions of GWCC and IWCC mothers scored in the high-risk range on the Sense of Competence subscale, Social Isolation subscale, and the Social Support Questionnaire (P=.57, .32, and .59, respectively). For more than 50% of the mothers, scores on the Sense of Competence and Social Isolation subscales deteriorated during the study period from the not-high-risk range to the high-risk range, regardless of assignment to GWCC or IWCC. No differences were noted between GWCC and IWCC mothers for any functional outcome. During the study period, 8.8% of children receiving GWCC were referred to Child Protective Services vs 8.3% of those receiving IWCC (P=.85). CONCLUSION: The format of well-child care may not be an important determinant of outcomes among high-risk mothers.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

The epidemiology of the homeless population and its impact on an urban emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the homeless adult population of an urban emergency department (ED) and study the medical, psychiatric, and social factors that contribute to homelessness. METHODS: A prospective, case-control survey of all homeless adult patients presenting to an urban, tertiary care ED and a random set of non-homeless controls over an eight-week period during summer 1999. Research assistants administered a 50-item questionnaire and were trained in assessing dentition and triceps skin-fold thickness. INCLUSION CRITERIA: all homeless adults who consented to participate. Homelessness was defined as being present for any person not residing at a private address, group home, or drug treatment program. Randomly selected controls were concurrently enrolled with a 3:1 homeless:control rate. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: critically ill, injured, or incapacitated patients, or patients <21 years of age. Univariate analysis with appropriate statistical tests was used. The Mantel-Haenszel test was used to adjust for population differences. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-two homeless subjects and 88 controls were enrolled. Data are presented for homeless vs control patients, and all p-values were <0.01. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) are given where appropriate: mean age (+/-SD) = 42 +/- 10 vs 48 +/- 13; male gender 95% vs 54% (OR = 17; 95% CI = 8 to 37); history of (hx) tuberculosis 49% vs 15% (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.2 to 3); hx HIV infection 35% vs 13% (OR = 3.8; 95% CI = 1.8 to 8); hx penetrating trauma 62% vs 16% (OR = 8.62; 95% CI = 4.4 to 17.1); hx depression 70% vs 15% (OR = 13.4; 95% CI = 6.7 to 27); hx schizophrenia 27% vs 7% (OR = 5.1; 95% CI = 2.0 to 14); hx alcoholism 81% vs 15% (OR = 24; 95% CI = 12 to 49); significant tooth loss (>3) 43% vs 18% (OR = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.8 to 6.4); percentage of body fat 16.5% vs 19.7%; hx social isolation (no weekly social contacts) 81% vs 11% (OR = 33.3; 95% CI = 14 to 100); mean number of ED visits/year 6.0 vs 1.6. CONCLUSIONS: In the study population homelessness was associated with a history of significantly higher rates of infectious disease, ethanol and substance use, psychiatric illness, social isolation, and rates of ED utilization.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Psychological change following 18 months of cochlear implant use.

Consecutive recipients of multichannel cochlear implants participated in preimplant as well as 9-month and 18-month psychological evaluations. Before receiving a cochlear implant, psychological tests indicated that the implant recipients were more depressed, suspicious, socially isolated, lonely, and socially anxious than was the general population. After 18 months of implant use, there was a significant reduction in depression, loneliness, social anxiety, social isolation, and suspiciousness. These changes in psychological state did not correlate with improved performance on audiological measures. The data suggest that although cochlear implants can have a positive effect on the emotional and behavioral status of persons with acquired postlingual profound deafness, the psychological outcome of implants is not simply a function of the audiological benefit assessed with standardized speech-based audiological tests.

Cochlear Implants↗

PubMed1999

People at risk of schizophrenia. Sample characteristics of the first 100 cases in the Edinburgh High-Risk Study.

BACKGROUND: The Edinburgh High-Risk Study is designed to explore the underlying pathogenesis of schizophrenia. AIMS: To establish the sample characteristics of the first 100 subjects in this study of young adults at risk of schizophrenia for genetic reasons, and to compare them with appropriate controls. METHOD: Details of the recruitment of the first 100 high-risk subjects aged 16-25 years into a prospective Scotland-wide study are given. Subjects and 30 age- and gender-matched normal controls were interviewed using the PSE, SADS-L and SIS and an unstructured psychiatric interview. RESULTS: Some significant differences emerged between the high-risk group and the control group, namely in previous psychiatric history (31 v. 6.3%), forensic contacts (19 v. 3.1%) and delinquent behaviour (20 v. 3.1%). There were also differences in some parameters from the SIS: childhood social isolation, interpersonal sensitivity, social isolation, suicidal ideation, restricted affect, oddness and disordered speech. CONCLUSIONS: These differences may represent increased risk of developing schizophrenia although their true significance will not be revealed until the cohort has been followed through the at-risk years.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Developing a social support network system to enhance mental and physical health.

A social network support system consists of a set of dynamic, ongoing relationships between the individual and significant others from one's immediate family, relatives, friends, work associates, or others. Through meaningful human interaction, these supportive individuals help meet a person's basic social needs by providing socioemotional aid (acceptance, affection, emotional understanding, empathy, and esteem), instrumental aid (advice, information, help with family or work responsibilities, financial aid), or both. This article provides an in-depth review of social support, explains the dynamics and importance of a viable social network system, and discusses its limitations. A number of selected topics receive special consideration: the social isolation of dentists, social support provided by one's spouse, some social aspects of female dentists, the individual's need for privacy, and personal space and loneliness.

Dentists↗

PubMed2006

Role of V1a vasopressin receptors in the control of aggression in Syrian hamsters.

The present study investigated the hypothesis that social isolation increases aggression by increasing the number of V1a vasopressin receptors in the anterior hypothalamus (AH). Male hamsters were randomly assigned to a group that was allowed to interact with a small nonaggressive hamster three times each week for 3 weeks (socially experienced) or to a group that did not interact socially with other hamsters (social isolates). On the final day of the experiment, hamsters in both groups were placed in a neutral arena with a small, nonaggressive intruder, and agonistic behavior was scored for 10 min. In social isolates, the duration of aggression and the number of attacks were significantly greater than in socially experienced hamsters. There were no significant between-group differences in the latency to the onset of aggression, the number of flank marks or in the duration of defensive/submissive, social or nonsocial behavior. The amount of V1a receptor binding was significantly greater in the AH, the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and the lateral hypothalamus in the social isolates than in the socially experienced hamsters. The amount of V1a receptor binding was significantly greater in the central amygdala of socially experienced hamsters than in socially isolated hamsters. Serum concentrations of testosterone were significantly higher in the socially experienced hamsters than in social isolates. These data support the hypothesis that social isolation increases aggression by increasing the number of V1a vasopressin receptors in the AH.

Aggression↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Isolation-induced social behavioural deficit in mice and its relation to stimulant drugs.

The effect of stimulant drugs was studied in isolated mice on spontaneous motor activity and in the isolation-induced social behavioural deficit test. Amphetamine, atropine, caffeine, oxolinic acid and RU 24969 all increased significantly the spontaneous locomotor activity. The social behavioural deficit was reduced with RU 24969, unchanged with atropine and oxolinic acid, increased with amphetamine and caffeine. These results show that no relation exists between the effect of a drug on spontaneous motor activity on one hand and the social behavioural deficit on the other hand; they confirm the high specificity of the effect of agonists of the 5-HT1B receptors in the social behavioural deficit test; they suggest that an increase in the social behavioural deficit as elicited by amphetamine and caffeine may result from an increase in attention and anxious vigilance.

Animals↗