Psychosocial dwarfism: Psychopathological aspects and putative neuroendocrine markers

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 188; no. 1; pp. 96 - 101
• Main Authors: Muñoz-Hoyos, Antonio, Molina-Carballo, Antonio, Augustin-Morales, MaríadelCarmen, Contreras-Chova, Francisco, Naranjo-Gómez, Ana, Justicia-Martínez, Fuensanta, Uberos, José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ireland Ltd 30-06-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: ACTH; Adolescent; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - blood; Affective deprivation syndrome; Analysis of Variance; beta-Endorphin - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Child Behavior Disorders - metabolism; Child Behavior Disorders - pathology; Child Behavior Disorders - psychology; Child clinical studies; Child, Preschool; Children; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Developmental Disabilities - metabolism; Developmental Disabilities - pathology; Developmental Disabilities - psychology; Dwarfism; Failure to Thrive - metabolism; Failure to Thrive - psychology; Female; Humans; Kynurenine - urine; Male; Medical sciences; Melatonin; Melatonin - blood; Miscellaneous; Neurosecretory Systems - metabolism; Non-organic failure to thrive; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychosocial dwarfism; Serotonin; Serotonin - blood; Tryptophan; β-endorphins; Psychosocial dwarfism; Melatonin; Non-organic failure to thrive; Serotonin; β-endorphins; Affective deprivation syndrome; ACTH; Tryptophan; Children; Affect affectivity; Biological marker; Neuropeptide; Opioid peptide; Growth retardation; Dwarfism; Psychopathology; Child; Pineal hormone; Human; Preschool age; Psychosocial factor; β-Endorphin; Preadolescent; Adrenocorticotropic hormone; School age; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Aminoacid; Neurotransmitter; Affective deficiency
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2010.10.004

Abstract There exists an extensive terminology for defining the situation of children who, in varying circumstances, suffer from affective deprivation (AD), within an unsatisfactory family situation or in institutions. Nevertheless, the neuroendocrine mechanisms (if they exist) determining it have yet to be identified. Our objective was to determine if specific neuroendocrine markers, all of them previously implicated in affective disorders, could be modified, and in which sense, in affective deprivation syndrome of the child. For this purpose, we studied three separate groups of children: (1) control group (CG); (2) children suffering from AD; and (3) children with non-organic failure to thrive (NOFT). In every case, we studied the serum levels of melatonin, serotonin, β-endorphins and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH); and kynurenine pathway tryptophan metabolites (both during the day and at night). Significantly, there was a conspicuous reduction in the levels of each of the neuroendocrine markers (melatonin, serotonin, β-endorphins and ACTH) in the group suffering from affective deficiency, a diminution which was even more noticeable in the group of patients presenting delayed growth. Furthermore, as also occurs in other affective disorders, there were corresponding modifications in the metabolisation of tryptophan. We report the existence of neuroendocrine mechanisms that are associated with the above-mentioned clinical manifestations in these patients, mechanisms that may underlie the close connection existing between AD syndrome and the cause of NOFT. These data suggest that the AD syndrome and NOFT comprise a single process, but one with a different evolutionary continuum of psychosocial dwarfism.