Oxytocin and Interpersonal Relationships. 2018

Alexandra Patin, and Dirk Scheele, and Rene Hurlemann
Department of Psychiatry, Division of Medical Psychology, University of Bonn - Medical Center, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany.

The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) has emerged as a potent modulator of diverse aspects of interpersonal relationships. OT appears to work in close interaction with several other neurotransmitter networks, including the dopaminergic reward circuit, and to be dependent on sex-specific hormonal influences. In this chapter, we focus on four main domains of OT and interpersonal relationships, including (1) the protective effect of OT on an individual's ability to withstand stress (i.e., stress buffering), (2) the effect of OT on emotion recognition and empathy, (3) OT's ability to enhance social synchrony and cooperation among individuals, and (4) the effect of OT on an individual's perception of social touch. We then illustrate the connection between OT and loneliness while grieving the loss of a loved one. We finish by discussing the clinical potential of OT, focusing on its potential role as an adjunct to psychotherapy, its enhancement through sex-specific hormonal influences, and the difficulties that present themselves when considering OT as a therapy. Overall, we argue that OT continues to hold strong therapeutic promise, but that it is strongly dependent on internal and external influences, for instance the patient's personal past experiences and interaction with the therapist, in order to provide the best possible therapy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007398 Interpersonal Relations The reciprocal interaction of two or more persons. Social Relationships,Husband-Wife Communication,Partner Communication,Communication, Husband-Wife,Communication, Partner,Husband Wife Communication,Husband-Wife Communications,Interpersonal Relation,Partner Communications,Relation, Interpersonal,Relationship, Social,Social Relationship
D010121 Oxytocin A nonapeptide hormone released from the neurohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, POSTERIOR). It differs from VASOPRESSIN by two amino acids at residues 3 and 8. Oxytocin acts on SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS, such as causing UTERINE CONTRACTIONS and MILK EJECTION. Ocytocin,Pitocin,Syntocinon
D004644 Emotions Those affective states which can be experienced and have arousing and motivational properties. Feelings,Regret,Emotion,Feeling,Regrets
D004645 Empathy An individual's objective and insightful awareness of the feelings and behavior of another person. It should be distinguished from sympathy, which is usually nonobjective and noncritical. It includes caring, which is the demonstration of an awareness of and a concern for the good of others. (From Bioethics Thesaurus, 1992) Caring,Compassion
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012919 Social Behavior Any behavior caused by or affecting another individual or group usually of the same species. Sociality,Behavior, Social,Behaviors, Social,Social Behaviors
D013315 Stress, Psychological Stress wherein emotional factors predominate. Cumulative Stress, Psychological,Emotional Stress,Individual Stressors,Life Stress,Psychological Cumulative Stress,Psychological Stress Experience,Psychological Stress Overload,Psychologically Stressful Conditions,Stress Experience, Psychological,Stress Measurement, Psychological,Stress Overload, Psychological,Stress Processes, Psychological,Stress, Emotional,Stressful Conditions, Psychological,Psychological Stress,Stress, Psychologic,Stressor, Psychological,Condition, Psychological Stressful,Condition, Psychologically Stressful,Conditions, Psychologically Stressful,Cumulative Stresses, Psychological,Experience, Psychological Stress,Individual Stressor,Life Stresses,Measurement, Psychological Stress,Overload, Psychological Stress,Psychologic Stress,Psychological Cumulative Stresses,Psychological Stress Experiences,Psychological Stress Measurement,Psychological Stress Measurements,Psychological Stress Overloads,Psychological Stress Processe,Psychological Stress Processes,Psychological Stresses,Psychological Stressful Condition,Psychological Stressful Conditions,Psychological Stressor,Psychological Stressors,Psychologically Stressful Condition,Stress Experiences, Psychological,Stress Processe, Psychological,Stress, Life,Stress, Psychological Cumulative,Stressful Condition, Psychological,Stressful Condition, Psychologically,Stressor, Individual

Related Publications

Alexandra Patin, and Dirk Scheele, and Rene Hurlemann
March 1967, Tar heel nurse,
Alexandra Patin, and Dirk Scheele, and Rene Hurlemann
September 1964, Winnipeg Clinic quarterly,
Alexandra Patin, and Dirk Scheele, and Rene Hurlemann
January 1978, Annual review of psychology,
Alexandra Patin, and Dirk Scheele, and Rene Hurlemann
July 1972, AORN journal,
Alexandra Patin, and Dirk Scheele, and Rene Hurlemann
November 1974, Health visitor,
Alexandra Patin, and Dirk Scheele, and Rene Hurlemann
November 1965, AJS; American journal of sociology,
Alexandra Patin, and Dirk Scheele, and Rene Hurlemann
January 1955, The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association,
Alexandra Patin, and Dirk Scheele, and Rene Hurlemann
July 1977, Dental clinics of North America,
Alexandra Patin, and Dirk Scheele, and Rene Hurlemann
September 1954, Journal of the American Dietetic Association,
Alexandra Patin, and Dirk Scheele, and Rene Hurlemann
April 2017, Hormones and behavior,
Copied contents to your clipboard!