Discussions and perspectives regarding oxytocin as a biomarker in human investigations.

This article introduces a review of research that has implemented oxytocin measurements in different fluids such as plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, urine and, mainly, saliva. The main purpose is to evaluate the level of evidence supporting the measurement of this biomarker implicated in a variety of psychological and social processes. First, a review of the technical developments that allowed the characterization, function establishing, and central and peripheral levels of this hormone is proposed. Then, the article approaches the current discussions regarding the level of reliability of the laboratory techniques that enable the measurement of oxytocin, focusing mainly on the determination of its concentration in saliva through Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Finally, research results, which have established the major physiological correlates of this hormone in fields such as social neuroscience and neuropsychology, are collected and discussed in terms of the hormone measurement methods that different authors have used. In this way, the article is expected to contribute to the panorama of debates and current perspectives regarding investigation involving this important biomarker.

Perceiving utilitarian gradients: Heart rate variability and self-regulatory effort in the moral dilemma task.

It is not yet clear which response behavior requires self-regulatory effort in the moral dilemma task. Previous research has proposed that utilitarian responses require cognitive control, but subsequent studies have found inconsistencies with the empirical predictions of that hypothesis. In this paper, we treat participants' sensitivity to utilitarian gradients as a measure of performance. We confronted participants (N = 82) with a set of five dilemmas evoking a gradient of mean utilitarian responses in a 4-point scale and collected data on heart rate variability and utilitarian responses. We found positive correlations between tonic and phasic HRV and sensitivity to the utilitarian gradient in the high tonic group, but not in the low tonic group. Moreover, the low tonic group misplaced a scenario with a selfish incentive at the high end of the gradient. Results suggest that performance is represented by sensitivity correlated with HRV and accompanied with a reasonable placement of individual scenarios within the gradient.

Global Effects of Early Life Stress on Neurons and Glial Cells.

Early life stress is considered a risk factor for the development of many diseases in both adolescence and adulthood. It has been reported that chronic stress (for instance, due to maternal separation during breast feeding), causes damage to the central nervous system at the level of neurons and glial cells, which are reflected in behavioral disturbances and susceptibility to the development of primarily emotional psychopathology. The aim of this review is to identify the overall state of the scientific literature that relates the information about the consequences of early life stress, contextualizing the mechanisms that may be altered, the behavioral consequences that have been studied and the possible dimorphic effects and its causes. At the end a short overview of pharmacological treatments that have been proposed to reduce the behavioral and neuroendocrine consequences caused by early life stress is presented. This review pretends to integrate general but relevant information based primarily on studies in animal models, which allow the experimental approach and the study of the mechanisms involved. A series of questions remains for reflection and surely will be answered in the near future.

Qué es la hiperactividad y cómo ven el problema los padres? Análisis de los motivos de consulta y las estrategias de afrontamiento del TDAH en una muestra de estratos socioeconómicos altos de Bogotá D. C / What is Hyperactivity and How do Parents View The Problem? Analysis of Chief Complaints and Coping Strategies of Adhd in a Sample of High Socioeconomic Status in Bogotá

Introducción: El trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad (TDAH) es el diagnóstico Más frecuente en la consulta Psiquiátrica infantil en distintas sociedades. Clásicamente, la Triada de hiperactividad, déficit de atención e impulsividad es el núcleo y el objetivo de las Diferentes estrategias terapéuticas. Sin embargo, son múltiples los motivos de consulta que Los pacientes y sus familias establecen, debido al impacto de los síntomas en las dinámicas Escolares y de convivencia. Objetivo: Conocer cómo se expresan los motivos de consulta en un medio como el de Bogotá (Colombia). Métodos: Se analizaron 366 encuestas de padres De niños con TDAH, quienes asisten a la reunión mensual de la escuela para padres HIDEA, Especializada en TDAH, en la que relatan sus motivos de consulta y las estrategias con las Cuales tratan de mejorar estas dificultades. Resultados: Las quejas más frecuentes son La rebeldía, el desacato a la autoridad y el bajo rendimiento escolar. Para ayudar al niño, Recurren ante todo a la terapia ocupacional, de acuerdo con la recomendación del colegio. Conclusiones: Para los padres la problemática sentida no se relaciona directamente con Los rasgos clínicos principales del TDAH, sino con sus consecuencias desadaptativas en el medio escolar. Paradójicamente, también se hace evidente una relativa debilidad de las estrategias de afrontamiento que implican cambios profundos en los patrones de crianza y convivencia...

Introduction: The most frequent clinical diagnosis in psychiatric child services in different societies is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Classically, the core symptoms and the main objective of different therapeutic strategies are the triad hyperactivity, attention deficit, and impulsivity. However, the chief complaints those patients and families states are diverse due to the relevant impact of the symptoms on school and social dynamics. Objective: To learn how the chief complaints are expressed in the context of Bogotá (Colombia). Methods: 366 surveys of parents of children with ADHD were analyzed. They participated in the monthly meeting of the “HIDEA Parent´s School”, which specializes in ADHD. Surveys summarized the complaints and confrontation strategies used to improve these inconveniences. Results: The most frequent complaints were disobedience, defying authority, and low school performance. To help the children the parents turned mainly to occupational therapy as suggested by the school. Conclusions: We observed that parents perceived the problem as linked to social annoyance consequences instead of clinical symptoms of ADHD. Paradoxically a relative weakness of confrontation approaches was also evident, involving deep changes in child rearing patterns and social interactions...