Roles of Oxytocin in Stress Responses, Allostasis and Resilience

Oxytocin has been revealed to work for anxiety suppression and anti-stress as well as for psychosocial behavior and reproductive functions. Oxytocin neurons are activated by various stressful stimuli. The oxytocin receptor is widely distributed within the brain, and oxytocin that is released or diffused affects behavioral and neuroendocrine stress responses. On the other hand, there has been an increasing number of reports on the role of oxytocin in allostasis and resilience. It has been shown that oxytocin maintains homeostasis, shifts the set point for adaptation to a changing environment (allostasis) and contributes to recovery from the shifted set point by inducing active coping responses to stressful stimuli (resilience). Recent studies have suggested that oxytocin is also involved in stress-related disorders, and it has been shown in clinical trials that oxytocin provides therapeutic benefits for patients diagnosed with stress-related disorders. This review includes the latest information on the role of oxytocin in stress responses and adaptation.

COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Decision-Making and Psychosocial Behavior in Women Seeking Fertility Treatment in APAC—an ASPIRE Patient Experience Report

Background: ASPIRE (Asia-Pacific Initiative on Reproduction) aims to develop a “patient-centered” guide to provide fertility treatment based on patient preferences, needs, and concerns during and beyond the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic. Methods: Women, aged 20–45 years old, trying to conceive for more than 6 months and contemplating for pregnancy including IVF treatment. A country wise analysis of patient behavior, attitudes and concerns, reasons for disruption of treatment and availability of assistance from fertility clinics during SARS-Cov-2 pandemic was performed. Six problem statements addressing patient concerns were identified and corresponding solutions to improve patient experience were formulated. A two-tier recommendation was developed. Tier 1 comprises recommendations in which the rate of “absolutely agree” responses were [Formula: see text]60%, whereas tier 2 refers to recommendations in which the rate of “absolutely agree” plus “agree” together was >60%. Results: Women in countries that have better infection control and are living a new normal were less worried about the pandemic influencing their lifestyle and finances. The proportion of women choosing not to continue IVF/IUI treatment during COVID-19 was similar across countries. Sixty-five percent of women in Group A intend to continue treatment during COVID-19 pandemic. Nine out of 10 patients are expected to resume or start treatment once fertility clinics are accessible. A patient-centered guide focusing on management of patient safety concerns, reduction in difficulty of access to hospitals, prioritization of patients, provision of emotional support, and improvement in patient education and acceptance of remote health services was developed. Conclusion: This ASPIRE patient experience report highlights a patient-centered guide on provision of safe fertility treatment across the Asia-Pacific region, which can be adapted to suit country-specific requirements depending on the stage of the pandemic, local restrictions, and availability of resources.

Psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on doctors’ children: are we heading towards a mental health pandemic?

Background The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) may affect the behavior of children. Non infected children of doctors seem to be susceptible to psychosocial health disorders. Objective To assess the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children of doctors. Methods This questionnaire-based survey filled up by doctors was done with the Pediatric Symptom Check List-17 (PSC-17) to assess the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on doctors’ children aged 10-15 years with no clinical evidence of being infected with coronavirus and possible contributing factors to mental distress/psychosocial health disorders. A PSC -17 Score of ≥15 was considered as a significant indicator of suspected psychosocial impact. Results Children’s mean age was 12.5 (SD 1.9) years, and 53.8% of them were male. Of 357 questionnaire responses, 36.1% had a significant PSC-17 score (>15) and a small, but significant inverse correlation was observed with age (r=-0.147; P=0.005). More screen time than usual was perceived by doctors to be the most common potential contributing factor (63%) to their children’s psychosocial impact. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to leave lasting effects on children’s mental health. Parents should closely monitor children for any changes in psychosocial behavior, so that timely intervention can be considered. Psychosocial screening of children is needed and should be conducted at schools.

The Role of Affectionate Caregiver Touch in Early Neurodevelopment and Parent–Infant Interactional Synchrony

Though rarely included in studies of parent–infant interactions, affectionate touch plays a unique and vital role in infant development. Previous studies in human and rodent models have established that early and consistent affectionate touch from a caregiver confers wide-ranging and holistic benefits for infant psychosocial and neurophysiological development. We begin with an introduction to the neurophysiological pathways for the positive effects of touch. Then, we provide a brief review of how affectionate touch tunes the development of infant somatosensory, autonomic (stress regulation), and immune systems. Affective touch also plays a foundational role in the establishment of social affiliative bonds and early psychosocial behavior. These touch-related bonding effects are known to be mediated primarily by the oxytocin system, but touch also activates mesocorticolimbic dopamine and endogenous opioid systems which aid the development of social cognitive processes such as social learning and reward processing. We conclude by proposing a unique role for affectionate touch as an essential pathway to establishing and maintaining parent-infant interactional synchrony at behavioral and neural levels. The limitations of the current understanding of affectionate touch in infant development point to fruitful avenues for future research.

The impact of adapted soccer program on psychosocial behavior in adolescents with Down syndrome

Introduction. Numerous studies have proven the significant positive impact of regular physical activity on the condition of people with intellectual disability. In practice, various adapted sports activities are increasingly used for children and adolescents with disabilities. Objectives. The current feasibility study determined the effect of soccer program on some psychosocial characteristics in adolescents with Down syndrome. Methods. 20 adolescents were recruited and randomized into two groups (the experimental group vs. the control group). Adolescents placed in the experimental group followed an adapted soccer program twice a week for 16 weeks. Adolescents placed in the control group continued with their usual daily routine during the experimental period. The level of aggression, attention problems, the level of anxiety and depression, and social problems were assessed. Results. The experimental group had significant improvements in all psychosocial variables. At the same time, no significant changes were registered in the control group. Conclusion. The results suggest that the soccer program can decrease the level of aggression, anxiety and depression, increase attention and improve social behavior in adolescents with DS.

The role of caregiver touch in early neurodevelopment and parent-infant interactional synchrony

Though rarely included in studies of parent-infant interactions, affectionate touch plays a unique and vital role in infant development. Previous studies in human and rodent models have established that early and consistent affectionate touch from a caregiver confers wide-ranging and holistic benefits for infant psychosocial and neurophysiological development. We begin by providing a brief review of how affectionate touch tunes the development of infant somatosensory, autonomic (stress regulation) and immune systems. Affective touch also plays a foundational role in the establishment of social affiliative bonds and early psychosocial behavior. These touch-related bonding effects are known to be mediated primarily by the oxytocin system, but touch also activates mesocorticolimbic dopamine and endogenous opioid systems which aid the development of social cognitive processes such as social learning and reward processing. We conclude by proposing a unique role for affectionate touch as an essential pathway to establishing and maintaining parent-infant interactional synchrony at behavioural, physiological and neural levels. The limitations of the current understanding of affectionate touch in infant development point to fruitful avenues for future research.

Stakeholder-Focused Communication Strategy During Crisis: A Case Study Based on the Brussels Terror Attacks

Research in the field of risk and crisis communication indicates that large disasters not only cause distress among those affected by a crisis situation but also among the wider public. It is known that feelings of anxiety and dread are rooted in a heuristic interpretation of the situation, and that this leads to elevated stress levels in both the individual and the collective. From the literature on psychosocial behavior, we know that the lack of information, the shortness of guidance on what to do, and the absence of acknowledgement of any emotional distress, all have an immediate negative impact on the individual’s stress level. To tackle this phenomenon, this research looks to communication practices as a way of dealing with this issue during a crisis. The prevailing crisis communication literature suggests its prime aim is to safeguard the sender’s reputation thereby preventing the loss of trust. In our work, we inverted that logic by introducing a crisis communication strategy that focuses on restoring trust by diminishing victims’ and other stakeholders’ stress levels. Based on a case, the Brussels terror attacks (March, 2016), we proved the effectiveness of this approach and the diminishing effect on the population’s stress levels.