The Relationship between Plasma Oxytocin Levels and Social Anxiety Symptoms

OBJECTIVE: The pathophysiology of social anxiety disorder (SAD) is not yet well understood, but previous research has suggested that oxytocin is associated with social behavior and may play a role in human anxiety states and anxiety-related traits. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between social anxiety symptoms and plasma oxytocin levels. METHODS: Twenty-three male patients with SAD and 28 healthy male controls participated in this study. All participants were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify associations between plasma oxytocin levels and SAD. RESULTS: In multiple regression models, after controlling for age and years of education, we found that higher oxytocin levels were significantly associated with higher total LSAS scores (R²=0.157, coefficient=0.145, 95% CI=-0.0005–0.291, p=0.051) and fear subscale scores (R²=0.134, coefficient=0.083, 95% CI=0.007–0.159, p=0.034) in the SAD group. CONCLUSION: In this study, increased plasma oxytocin levels were associated with higher social anxiety symptoms among SAD patients, but not among controls. This might be because among SAD patients, higher oxytocin (OT) secretion is an insufficient compensatory attempt to reduce social anxiety symptoms.

Social anxiety and negative early life events in university students / Eventos negativos na infância e ansiedade social em estudantes universitários

INTRODUCTION: There is substantial evidence regarding the impact of negative life events during childhood on the aetiology of psychiatric disorders. We examined the association between negative early life events and social anxiety in a sample of 571 Spanish University students. METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2007, we collected data through a semistructured questionnaire of sociodemographic variables, personal and family psychiatric history, and substance abuse. We assessed the five early negative life events: (i) the loss of someone close, (ii) emotional abuse, (iii) physical abuse, (iv) family violence, and (v) sexual abuse. All participants completed the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: Mean (SD) age was 21 (4.5), 75% female, LSAS score was 40 (DP = 22), 14.2% had a psychiatric family history and 50.6% had negative life events during childhood. Linear regression analyses, after controlling for age, gender, and family psychiatric history, showed a positive association between family violence and social score (p = 0.03). None of the remaining stressors produced a significant increase in LSAS score (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: University students with high levels of social anxiety presented higher prevalence of negative early life events. Thus, childhood family violence could be a risk factor for social anxiety in such a population.

INTRODUÇÃO: Existem evidências substanciais sobre o impacto de eventos negativos da vida durante a infância na etiologia dos transtornos psiquiátricos. Examinamos a associação entre os eventos negativos ocorridos na infância e a ansiedade social em uma amostra de 571 estudantes universitários espanhóis. MÉTODOS: Em um estudo transversal realizado em 2007, foram coletados os dados de variáveis sociodemográficas, história psiquiátrica pessoal e familiar e abuso de substâncias por meio de um questionário semiestruturado e avaliamos cinco eventos negativos ocorridos na infância: (i) a perda de alguém próximo, (ii) abuso emocional, (iii) abuso físico, (iv) violência familiar e (v) abuso sexual. Todos os participantes preencheram a escala de Liebowitz para ansiedade social. RESULTADOS: A média (DP) de idade foi de 21 anos (4,5); 75% eram do sexo feminino; o escore na LSAS foi 40 (DP = 22); 14,2% tinham história psiquiátrica familiar e 50,6% tiveram eventos negativos durante a infância. A análise de regressão linear, após o controle para idade, sexo e história psiquiátrica familiar, mostraram associação positiva entre violência familiar e escore de ansiedade social (p = 0,03). Nenhum dos fatores estressores restantes produziu aumento significativo no escore da LSAS (p > 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Os estudantes universitários com altos níveis de ansiedade social apresentaram prevalência maior de eventos negativos precoces. Portanto, a violência familiar na infância pode ser um fator de risco para ansiedade social em tal população.

The utility of Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale in the patients with social anxiety disorder in Chinese / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Background During the past two decades, a number of rating scales were developed to facilitate diagnosis and assessment of subjects with social anxiety disorder. One of the most commonly used scales for the assessment of social anxiety disorder is the Liebowitz social anxiety scale (LSAS). The LSAS is widely used in epidemiologic investigations and clinical researches,and its assessment in the pharmacotherapy efficacy for social anxiety disorder is superior to any other scale. So we designed this study to explore the validity and reliability of the LSAS in Chinese patients with social anxiety disorder and normal control, and to find the difference of the scores between the patients self -report version and clinician-administered version. Methods Fifty five patients meeting the DSM-Ⅳ diagnostic criteria for social anxiety disorder and 168 normal controls who were screened from 222 college students were rated by LSAS, social phobia scale and self-made General Information Forms. Results The Cronbath α of LSAS for the patients and the normal controls was 0.83 and 0.77, respectively. The 4-week test-retest reliability for total scores and its factors scores of LSAS in 31 normal controls were ranging from 0.68 to 0.79. The ROC area under curve value in discriminating the patients from normal controls was 0.87±0.03; the total score of 35 was considered to be the best cut-off score for LSAS, then its sensitivity was 0.77 and its specificity was 0.81; and no significant difference between the self-report version and clinician-administered version. Conclusions The LSAS is good in internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and has high sensitivity and specificity in discriminating the patients and the controls. There is no significant difference in the total score and each factor scores of LSAS between self-report version and clinician-administered version.