The Interaction of Oxytocin and Social Support, Loneliness, and Cortisol Level in Major Depression

Abstract

ObjectiveLoneliness is a specific risk factor for depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior. The present study examined whether the serum oxytocin level would interact with social support and buffers loneliness and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis activity in drug-naïve patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).MethodsTwenty-six patients with MDD (male:female = 3:23; mean age, 45.54 ± 12.97 years) were recruited. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale and self-reported Measurement of Support Function Questionnaire were administered. Serum oxytocin and cortisol levels were assessed using a commercial immunoassay kits.ResultsIn MDD patients, a negative association was found between degrees of social support and loneliness (β = −0.39, p = 0.04). The interaction between social support and serum oxytocin level was negatively associated with loneliness (β = −0.50, p = 0.017) and serum cortisol level (β = −0.55, p = 0.020) after adjusting for age. Follow-up analyses showed that the association between higher social support and lower loneliness was observed only in the higher-oxytocin group (r = −0.75, p = 0.003) but not in the lower group (r = −0.19, p = 0.53). The significance remained after further adjusting for sex and depression severity.ConclusionLow oxytocin level is a vulnerability factor for the buffering effect of social support for loneliness and aberrant HPA-axis activity in MDD patients.

Brain oxytocin: how puzzle stones from animal studies translate into psychiatry

“…First, physical distancing and lack of direct social interactions due to social isolation have adverse effects on the activity of the OXT system: social isolation results in lower density of neuronal branching (Neumann and Grinevich, unpublished), and reduced neuropeptide synthesis, and prevents socially stimulated central OXT release [66,191,192]. Second, social support is an important factor for our mental and physical well-being and for the recovery from any disease [193,194], and these effects are at least partly mediated by the OXT system [195][196][197][198] (for review see [39]). Finally, due to the pro-social and anti-stress effects of the brain OXT system, IN application of the synthetic peptide or efficient activation of the endogenous OXT are potential options to prevent or reverse social isolation-induced impairment in mental well-being and the development of serious psychopathologies, associated with such a dramatic crisis affecting our social lives.…”

Consequences of pandemic-associated social restrictions: Role of social support and the oxytocin system

“…The neuropeptide OXT was shown to exert not only pro-social and stress-reducing, but also anti-inflammatory effects ( Jankowski et al, 2010 , Jurek and Neumann, 2018 , Neumann and Landgraf, 2012 , Oliveira-Pelegrin et al, 2013 , Wang et al, 2015 ). Specifically, OXT mediates the stress-buffering and anti-inflammatory effects of social support ( Heinrichs et al, 2003 , Riem et al, 2020 , Tsai et al, 2019 ). We will discuss options to increase OXT signaling in the brain and body including either activation of the endogenous OXT system or treatment with synthetic OXT to reduce the symptoms of pandemic-induced psychosocial stress and, consequently, to enhance the defensive power of the immune system.…”

“…In people reporting a high level of loneliness the beneficial effect of intranasal OXT on parasympathetic cardiac reactivity was diminished independent of stress hormone levels ( Norman et al, 2011 ). Moreover, in patients suffering from major depression, low OXT levels impede the buffering effect of social support for loneliness and HPA axis activity ( Tsai et al, 2019 ).…”

Leveraging belonging in response to global loneliness

“…Research and related interventions that increase belonging to alleviate loneliness are not novel, but they have not been emphasised as a prominent social-solution strategy to address problems like loneliness (Prieto-Flores et al, 2011). It is possible that a better understanding of how belonging research can impact loneliness could provide an opportunity to examine some related critical adverse outcomes such as suicide (Cover, 2020;Hatcher & Stubbersfield, 2013) and suicidal behaviours (Tsai et al, 2019). The benefits could also extend to non-emergency chronic health conditions such as high cholesterol levels and diabetes (Richard et al, 2017); mental health problems, including depression (J.…”