Lower CSF oxytocin concentrations in women with a history of childhood abuse
Abstract
Early-life disruption of the parent-child relationship, for example, in the form of abuse, neglect or loss, dramatically increases risk for psychiatric, as well as certain medical, disorders in adulthood. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) plays a seminal role in mediating social affiliation, attachment, social support, maternal behavior and trust, as well as protection against stress and anxiety. We therefore examined central nervous system OT activity after early-life adversity in adult women. We measured OT concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected from 22 medically healthy women, aged 18-45 years, categorized into those with none-mild versus those with moderate-severe exposure to various forms of childhood abuse or neglect. Exposure to maltreatment was associated with decreased CSF OT concentrations. A particularly strong effect was identified for emotional abuse. There were inverse associations between CSF OT concentrations and the number of exposure categories, the severity and duration of the abuse and current anxiety ratings. If replicated, the association of lower adult CSF OT levels with childhood trauma might indicate that alterations in central OT function may be involved in the adverse outcomes of childhood adversity.
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Oxytocin antagonist injected into the nucleus accumbens or prefrontal cortex prior to cohabitation prevents partner preference formation in female prairie voles, while vehicle into any brain region or oxytocin antagonist into the caudate putamen does not.
“Females receiving vehicle into any brain region or OT antagonist into the caudate putamen formed a partner preference, while those receiving the antagonist into the NAcc or prefrontal cortex failed to display a partner preference [58] (Figure 3C).”
From Oxytocin and the Neural Mechanisms Regulating Social Cognition and Affiliative Behavior (2009) · cites this paper as [58]
In humans, women who experienced early childhood neglect or abuse had lower CSF oxytocin levels than those who did not report such experiences.
“Similarly, in humans, women who experienced early childhood neglect or abuse had lower CSF oxytocin levels than those who did not report such experiences (Heim et al., 2008).”
From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as Heim et al., 2008
The oxytocinergic system and social and emotional development are sensitive to psychological trauma during ontogeny.
“Given the apparent sensitivity of the oxytocinergic system as well as of social and emotional development to psychological trauma during ontogeny (Francis et al., 1999, 2000; Winslow et al., 2003; Heim et al., 2008)”
From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as Heim et al., 2008
Women who have experienced abuse and neglect in childhood have reduced OT concentrations in their cerebrospinal fluid compared to controls.
“For example, women who have experienced abuse and neglect in childhood have reduced OT concentrations in their cerebrospinal fluid compared to controls [40].”
From The prairie vole: An emerging model organism for understanding the social brain (2010) · cites this paper as [40]
In humans, early-life abuse and neglect in girls results in decreased OT concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid.
“In humans, early-life abuse and neglect in girls results in decreased OT concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid”
From Oxytocin and Social Relationships: From Attachment to Bond Disruption (2017) · cites this paper as Heim et al. 2009
Lower than normal cerebrospinal fluid levels of oxytocin were measured in adult women with a history of childhood trauma and abuse, as well as in the urine of socially deprived children interacting with their mothers.
“Lower than normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of OXT were measured in adult women with a history of childhood trauma and abuse (31), as well as in the urine of socially deprived children interacting with their mothers (32) [but see also (33)], indicating that early-life adversity has long-lasting impact on OXT signaling.”
From Dissecting the Role of Oxytocin in the Formation and Loss of Social Relationships (2016) · cites this paper as [31]
Women with a history of child abuse exhibit lower levels of oxytocin as compared to women without abuse histories.
“For example, women with a history of child abuse exhibit lower levels of oxytocin as compared to women without abuse histories (Heim et al., 2009).”
From Effects of adverse childhood experiences on the association between intranasal oxytocin and social stress reactivity among individuals with cocaine dependence (2015) · cites this paper as Heim et al., 2009
Alterations in the oxytocin system have been found in adults with a history of childhood maltreatment.
“Interestingly, alterations in the oxytocin system have been found in adults with a history of childhood maltreatment.”
From Effects of adverse childhood experiences on the association between intranasal oxytocin and social stress reactivity among individuals with cocaine dependence (2015) · cites this paper as Heim et al., 2009
Individuals who experienced a lack of positively valenced, affectionate touch in childhood present with blunted sensitivity to the social value of touch and lower blood plasma oxytocin levels.
“Individuals who experienced a lack of positively valenced, affectionate touch in childhood, such as in cases of neglect and abuse, present with blunted sensitivity to the social value of touch ( Devine et al., 2020 ) and lower blood plasma oxytocin levels ( Heim et al., 2009 ; Donadon et al., 2018 ), which may be tied to disruptions in CT-afferent driven neurodevelopment.”
From The brain-body disconnect: A somatic sensory basis for trauma-related disorders (2022) · cites this paper as Heim et al., 2009
Those who experience early life abuse or neglect from a caregiver may develop dissociative response patterns as an adaptive means of escape from childhood stress and show reduced oxytocin levels in adulthood.
“Those who experience early life abuse or neglect from a caregiver may develop dissociative response patterns as an adaptive means of escape from childhood stress and show reduced oxytocin levels in adulthood ( Heim et al., 2009 ; Opacka-Juffry and Mohiyeddini, 2012 ; Bertsch et al., 2013 )”
From The brain-body disconnect: A somatic sensory basis for trauma-related disorders (2022) · cites this paper as Heim et al., 2009
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- Authors
- Heim, C., Young, L. J., Newport, D. J., Mletzko, T., Miller, A. H., & Nemeroff, C. B.
- Affiliations
- Emory University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Heim, C
- Venue
- Molecular Psychiatry
- Published
- 2008-10-28
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 954-958
- ISSN
- 1359-4184 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-5578
- OpenAlex
- W2139761578
- Cited by
- 518
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 44 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 34
- FWCI
- 27.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Molecular Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH-64692, K02MH064692, MH-56539, P50MH058922, MH58922)
- National Center for Research Resources (M01-RR00039, RR-00 165, M01RR000039, P51RR000165)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- oxytocin, cerebrospinal fluid, childhood abuse, child neglect, childhood adversity, emotional abuse, anxiety, women
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Oxytocin, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
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