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Results for “SOCIAL ISOLATION”

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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Social isolation and social interaction alter regional brain opioid receptor binding in rats.

Endogenous opioid systems have been implicated in the consequences of social isolation and in the regulation of social behavior, although their precise role is not clear. There is not much information on a possible locus in the brain at which opioids exert their effects on social behavior. In an effort to address this issue we analyzed regional opioidergic activity upon social isolation-induced social interaction using in vivo autoradiography. Animals were either socially isolated for 7 days or group housed, and tested singly or in a dyadic encounter. Subsequently, a tracer dose of [3H]diprenorphine was administered and in vivo autoradiographic analysis was performed. Seven days of social isolation caused changes in both social behavior (dyadic encounters) and non-social behavior (singly tested animals). Opioid receptor binding was increased in the medial prefrontal cortex and the parafascicular area in isolates, suggesting that social isolation may evoke an upregulation of opioid receptors in these areas. Social interaction increased opioid binding in the parafascicular area of non-isolated rats. In substantia nigra para compacta and ventral tegmental area binding was increased upon social isolation, and social interaction decreased opioid binding in isolates, but these changes failed to reach significance. These observed local changes in opioid receptor binding suggest a role for opioid systems in discrete areas in the consequences of social isolation and the regulation of social behavior in rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

[Changes in the readiness for sexual and aggressive action of the sword tail Xiphophorus helleri (Pisces, Poeciliidae) under the influence of social isolation].

Social deprivation for 3 to 112 days caused an increase in copulation attempts and other motivational changes of sexual activities. Furthermore, it could be demonstrated that the tendencies for nipping, backing, copulation attempts, and gonopodial swinging fluctuated independently as a result of non-release of these activities. A rise in copulation tendency does not necessarily lead to increased aggressiveness. In the social hierarchy inferior individuals exhibited the highest levels of sexual and aggressive responsiveness.

Aggression↗
PubMed2006

The relation of social isolation, loneliness, and social support to disease outcomes among the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined relations between social isolation, loneliness, and social support to health outcomes in a sample of New Mexico seniors. METHOD: We used random-digit dialing to obtain a random sample of 755 southern New Mexico seniors. Participants answered questions pertaining to demographics, social isolation and loneliness, social support, and disease diagnosis including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, arthritis, emphysema, tuberculosis, kidney disease, cancer, asthma, and stroke. The sample allowed for comparison of Caucasian and Hispanic participants. RESULTS: Correlational and logistic analyses indicated that belongingness support related most consistently to health outcomes. Ethnic subgroup analysis revealed similarities and differences in the pattern of associations among the predictor and outcome variables. DISCUSSION: The results demonstrate the importance of social variables for predicting disease outcomes in the elderly and across ethnic groups.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Depression, isolation, social support, and cardiovascular disease in older adults.

Research evidence related specifically to psychosocial issues in older adults with cardiovascular disease remains sparse; however, widespread recognition of the impact of the changing population demographic is spurring new research in this important area. National guidelines for cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention in several countries include recommendations related to psychosocial issues; authors are beginning to address the older cardiac patient in their recommendations. The purpose of this article is to highlight some key psychosocial factors that have been independently associated with coronary heart disease but to do so with a focus on the older adult in the secondary prevention setting. The selected psychosocial factors are social support, social isolation, and depression. Although evidence supports a relationship between psychosocial factors and coronary heart disease, the issue addressed in this article is whether such relationships hold true in the older adult and whether rehabilitation and secondary prevention interventions are targeted to address these factors. As much as possible, current recommendations (related to psychosocial issues) from worldwide Clinical Practice Guidelines are highlighted. Finally, any examination of psychosocial factors and coronary heart disease must consider the possibility of sex and/or gender differences. Therefore, a commentary on reported differences between men and women with respect to social support, social isolation, and depression is included.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1988

Lifelong eccentricity and social isolation. I. Psychiatric, social, and forensic aspects.

Sixty individuals are described who have lifelong eccentricity and social isolation and who have sought psychiatric treatment as a direct or an indirect result. They were predominantly young and, as in other samples of autistic people, male (6M: 1F). Most of them were of normal intelligence. They were all profoundly socially handicapped: few had lived independently, had lasting sexual relationships or spent much time in employment. Nearly a half of the subjects had been involved in antisocial behaviour at some stage. Nearly a quarter had committed a criminal offence. Violence was usually domestic, most often directed against the mother. Forty-eight per cent of subjects had a second psychiatric disorder (11.7% had a psychosis).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1970

Modification of extreme social isolation by contingent social reinforcement.

Two socially isolated patients were placed on a program where social reinforcement from staff members was made dependent on social interaction with other patients or staff members. This procedure was imposed in a setting where only limited control was possible. The level of social interaction and a concomitant alternate behavior in each patient was increased when the contingency for social reinforcement was imposed. The study provides another example of the efficacy of social reinforcement where there is little control over other reinforcers. Implications for use of similar procedures to increase generalization in the community are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Effects of postweaning social isolation and re-socialization on the expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and dendritic development in the medial prefrontal cortex of the rat.

In the present study we evaluated the effects of early social isolation and re-socialization on dendritic development and the expression of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the rat. Sprague-Dawley male rats were reared either in isolation (IC) or social (SC) conditions from postnatal day 18 to 32. Rats were then behaviorally evaluated in the open field test, and approximately half of the animals were sacrificed. Their brains were processed either for immunocytochemical labeling against VIP or for the Golgi-Cox-Sholl staining. The remaining IC rats were re-socialized during 30 additional days. The results demonstrated that early social isolation impair neuronal dendritic arborization and increase the number of VIP-immunoreactive neurons. Furthermore, animals displayed hyperlocomotion in the open-field test. According to our structural, immunocytochemical and open-field data, the resocialization experience was unable to reverse neuronal and behavioral abnormalities.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1998

Effects of dopamine agonists and antagonists on PCP-induced stereotyped behaviour and social isolation in the rat social interaction test.

Phencyclidine (PCP) can induce a model psychosis in humans that resembles an acute schizophrenic psychosis. In animal models of schizophrenia, PCP induces locomotor hyperactivity, stereotyped behaviour and social isolation, and the purpose of the present study was to describe the ability of dopamine agonists and antagonists to mimic or interact with these PCP-induced behaviours in rats. The compounds were administered daily for 3 days in combination with vehicle or 2.0 mg/kg PCP and the rats were tested in the social interaction test on the last day of drug administration. The study showed that D1-agonists with relative differences in efficacy at the DA-stimulated adenylate cyclase had limited effects on the PCP-induced behaviours, whereas the D1-antagonist SCH 23391 could alleviate the PCP-induce social isolation following daily treatment for 3 days. However, following long-term treatment for 21 days, the rats develop tolerance to this effect. These data thus suggested that the D1-receptor system only had a modulatory effect on PCP. In contrast, the D2-receptor family may be more directly involved, because the D2/D3/D4-agonist quinpirole could mimic and potentiate the PCP-induced deficits in social behaviour, and the D2/D3-antagonist (-)sulpiride could alleviate the PCP-induced stereotyped behaviour and social isolation. However, a D4-antagonist did not affect the behaviour of vehicle- and PCP-treated rats, suggesting that this system plays a less direct role in the behavioural effects of PCP. In general, however, the effects of SCH 23391, quinpirole and (-)sulpiride on the PCP-induced behaviours were mirrored in the vehicle-treated control groups and it is therefore possible that non-specific effects may have been important.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Altered neurobiological responses to acute immobilization in social-isolated mice.

Social isolation results in dynamic changes of neurobiological functions. The altered internal state of the CNS is reflected in changes in spontaneous behavior, changed responses to transmission-related substances and changed responsiveness to an additional impairment of normal relations between the organism and its environment. We analysed the influence of an acute 2-hour immobilization on such isolation-dependent changes. Whereas the susceptibility to pentetrazole-induced seizures increased continuously with lengthening of isolation and was not affected by the additional impairment, the responsiveness to transmission-related substances changed dynamically depending upon isolation-induced alterations. An immobilization-induced increase in responsiveness to LSD and propranolol was demonstrable in grouped controls and after short-term isolation. The apomorphine stimulation during prolonged isolation experienced a down- and an upregulation which were repeated in a stronger manner by immobilization responses especially after long-term isolation. It is suggested that the dynamics of isolation-induced changes coincided with changed acute adaptive functions.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Effect of novel antipsychotic drugs on phencyclidine-induced stereotyped behaviour and social isolation in the rat social interaction test.

Phencyclidine (PCP) induces stereotyped behaviour and social isolation in rats; comparisons with clinical observations have suggested that these behaviours may mimic certain aspects of the positive and the negative symptoms, respectively, of an acute schizophrenic episode. Novel antipsychotics are effective in treating the positive symptoms in schizophrenic patients and have also shown some promise in treating the negative symptoms. In the present study the effects of the novel antipsychotics remoxipride (2.5-20 mg/kg), risperidone (0.02-0.63 mg/kg), sertindole (0.01-2.5 mg/kg), olanzapine (0.16-2.5 mg/kg) and quetiapine (0.16-10 mg/kg) on PCP-induced behaviours were determined. The drugs were administered daily for 3 or 21 days in combination with vehicle or 2.0 mg/kg of PCP for the last 3 days of the administration regime, and the rats were tested using the social interaction test. The antipsychotic drugs all reliably reduced the level of PCP-induced stereotyped behaviour and had distinct effects on PCP-induced social isolation. Comparison with clinical findings suggests that the PCP-induced behaviours respond to treatment with antipsychotic drugs in a manner that correlates well with clinical observations, and that this animal model of schizophrenia may be useful for evaluating novel drug candidates. However, the study also showed that additional experiments are required to determine the specificity by which antipsychotic drugs alleviate PCP-induced behaviours because most of the drugs also affected considerably the behaviour of the control animals.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Sex difference in psychological behavior changes induced by long-term social isolation in mice.

Social isolation can induce psychological behavior changes. It is interesting to know whether there is sex difference in responding to social isolation or not. The present study compared the behavior difference between male and female mice isolated for 1-4 months. The results showed that the isolated male mice had higher accounts of locomotor activity than the isolated female and group-housed ones. Both isolated male and female mice spent shorter time in the dark box than the group-housed mice in the light/dark test, and isolated male mice spent less time in the closed arms than isolated female and group-housed mice when isolated for 2, 3 and 4 months in the elevated plus-maze test. These results suggest that isolation induce an anxiolytic-like effect. The immobile time in the forced swimming test was shortened in male mice isolated for 1 and 2 months. Both isolated male and female mice showed shorter time in pentobarbital-induced loss of righting reflex and less body weight gain. These results demonstrated that there was a sex difference in psychological behavior changes in mice undergoing social isolation and the male mice were more easily affected by isolation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effects of diazepam, citalopram, methadone and naloxone on PCP-induced stereotyped behaviour and social isolation in the rat social interaction test.

Phencyclidine (PCP) can induce a model psychosis in humans that mimics the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. In the social interaction test PCP induces stereotyped behaviour and social isolation in rats, and these behaviours can be inhibited by antipsychotic drugs. In order to further evaluate the predictive validity of this model of schizophrenia the anxiolytic diazepam (0.02-17.5 micromol/kg; 0.005-5.0 mg/kg), the antidepressant citalopram (0.62-19.8 micromol/kg; 0.3-4.0 mg/kg), the opioid agonist methadone (0.36-5.8 micromol/kg; 0.13-2.0 mg/kg) and the opioid antagonist naloxone (0.34-22.0 micromol/kg; 0.13-8.0 mg/kg) were tested as examples of drugs without antipsychotic activity. The experiments demonstrated that these compounds did not specifically inhibit the behavioural effects of PCP. So far only antipsychotic drugs have been able to specifically inhibit the PCP-induced behaviours.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Social vulnerability, social isolation of chronic psychiatric patients].

Social vulnerability and social isolation as to different, light and severe grades of chronically ill psychiatric patients were evaluated. A social vulnerability index, composed out of marital status, income, health, living conditions, occupation, and risk factors in childhood was used. The vulnerability of 64 severely chronically ill patients and of 84 chronically ill patients was assessed. According to their vulnerability, the patients were divided into a group of highly vulnerable and a group of less vulnerable patients. The social isolation of the two groups (severely chronically und chronically ill patients) was compared and assessed. We used objective criteria (such as living alone, no friends, no contact to family members) and subjective criteria (feeling isolated). Social Vulnerability and social isolation are higher in severely chronically ill patients compared to chronically ill patients. The severely sick group is significantly more affected by objective and/or by subjective isolation than the less sick group. In both groups patients have more difficulties in social relationships than non-isolated patients. There is no significant correlation between objective isolation and subjective isolation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

A peer-mediated intervention with clinic-referred socially isolated girls. Generalization, maintenance, and social validation.

Peer-mediated interventions have been widely employed with seriously impaired autistic and handicapped children to modify social withdrawal. This study extends the literature by examining the impact of a peer intervention on the interactions of developmentally normal, socially isolated girls. Two to three actual classroom peers were trained to serve as helpers to initiate and maintain interactions with the subjects. The intervention was introduced sequentially across 2 girls in a multiple-baseline design, and a within-subject ABA withdrawal design was used to assess maintenance. Behavioral observations during recess periods indicated that both children's positive social interactions with peer helpers and other classmates were increased significantly during intervention and were maintained in return-to-baseline conditions and at 4-month follow-up. Increases in positive social interactions of both subjects generalized to a second recess setting, in which intervention was not introduced. Subjects' interactions in both recess settings reached levels comparable to those of social-comparison groups of peers. Teacher and self-report ratings suggested that both girls had fewer social problems and experienced less loneliness and dysphoria as a result of the intervention.

Behavior Therapy↗