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PubMed1990

Use of attitude-behaviour models in exercise promotion.

Many studies have adopted a theoretical attitude-behaviour framework for the analysis of exercise behaviour. The most popular models include the Health Belief Model, the Protection Motivation Theory, the Social Cognitive Theory, the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour, and the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Aspects other than a preoccupation with health often have a strong influence upon an individual's decision whether or not to engage in exercise. Expectations of self-efficacy, attitudes towards exercising (the affective dimension), perceived barriers to exercise, and past behaviour exert strong influences upon behavioural intention, which in turn influences overt behaviour. In some instances, the variables explaining intention also exert a direct influence upon behaviour in parallel with their influence upon intention. Those promoting exercise behaviour should focus initial attention upon the habit of exercising rather than upon the development of traditional 'endurance fitness'.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioural training during acute brain trauma rehabilitation: an empirical case study.

Operant conditioning-based behavioural interventions are commonly used for the behavioural problems of individuals with mental retardation. There is also growing evidence of the benefits of these interventions for treating some of the behavioural problems of individuals with acquired cognitive deficits resulting from brain trauma. However, the effects of behavioural interventions on behavioural problems occurring during acute neurorehabilitation, when orientation and memory are most impaired, have not been studied. In this empirical case study, operant conditioning-based procedures were applied with an 8-year-old girl recovering from brain trauma and related neurosurgery. Screaming, non-compliance and aggression, which were disrupting rehabilitation therapies and follow-up neuroimaging, were treated using differential positive reinforcement techniques. Beneficial behavioural intervention effects were demonstrated using single-subject experimental methods. Aberrant behaviour during physical and occupational therapies was reduced, and cooperation with a computerized tomography (CT) scan without sedation was accomplished using operant behavioural intervention. Results support the use of operant interventions early in recovery from brain trauma, and highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration for the implementation and further study of early behavioural interventions.

Aneurysm, Ruptured↗

PubMed2003

The impact of screening on future health-promoting behaviours and health beliefs: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To carry out a systematic review to examine the effects of cholesterol, breast and cervical cancer screening on actual or intended health-promoting behaviours and health-related beliefs. DATA SOURCES: Eleven electronic databases (between 1980 and 2000). REVIEW METHODS: All English language studies that investigated the impact of cholesterol, breast and cervical screening programmes on health-promoting behaviours and beliefs were assessed for inclusion. The data extraction form and quality assessment criteria were developed using the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination guidelines. Data were extracted and a non-quantitative synthesis was conducted. Reviewers categorised the outcomes into those that could be considered beneficial or detrimental to health. This categorisation was based on a value judgement that considered both statistical and clinical significance. RESULTS: The cholesterol studies used prospective designs more frequently, possibly as many focused on observing changes in lifestyle following screening. Participants who went for breast or cervical screening were not offered advice on lifestyle changes and most of the research into cancer screening programmes investigated issues related to uptake of screening services, explanations of why people are or are not screened and interventions to improve uptake. All three screening programmes are associated with high levels of favourable health behaviours and beliefs that have been measured, although there is evidence that recommended follow-up after screening is often not adhered to. There was no literature on the cost-effectiveness regarding the wider implications of screening (only on reduction of disease-specific mortality/morbidity), possibly due to the outcomes being very broad and not easily categorised and classified. CONCLUSIONS: The studies reviewed suggest that cholesterol screening had a positive effect on health behaviours, although participation was voluntary and those screened were possibly more motivated to make changes. These results are therefore not generalisable to the entire population and other factors need to be taken into account. Reduction in blood cholesterol levels was reported in all but two of the studies that assessed this outcome, suggesting that successful lifestyle changes were made. However, as most of the studies only reported follow-up of those screened, some of the reduction can be attributable to regression to the mean. Whether breast and cervical screening affect future health behaviours and beliefs has not been directly measured in many studies and few studies have collected baseline measures. However, evidence suggests that women who attend breast and cervical screening once are likely to reattend and attendance is associated with several positive health behaviours, although it cannot be confirmed whether the associations observed were a result of screening or because these women have a certain set of health behaviours and beliefs irrespective of their experience of screening. Areas of further research include: measuring a much wider range of behaviours and beliefs before and after screening is accepted or declined, examining the subgroup of participants who receive 'desirable' results and the impact of this on health beliefs and health-promoting behaviour, and qualitative research into the experiences of screening and how this interacts with knowledge and beliefs about other aspects of health.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed2006

Bullying among Greenlandic schoolchildren: development since 1994 and relations to health and health behaviour.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to examine the development in the prevalence of bullying behaviours among Greenlandic schoolchildren and the association with health outcome and health behaviour. STUDY DESIGN: The study was based on three school surveys among Greenlandic schoolchildren contributing to the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey, a WHO collaborative study. The surveys were carried out in Greenland in 1994, 1998 and 2002, with respective participations of 1322, 1648 and 891 pupils of 11, 13 and 15 years of age. METHODS: The trends in bullying behaviours from 1994 to 2002 was analysed by means of descriptive statistics. The strengths of associations in the patterning of the bullying behaviours in their relation to health indicators (physical symptoms, psychological well-being and smoking and alcohol use) were analysed by means of logistic regression. RESULTS: There has been an increase in the occurrence of bullying among Greenlandic schoolchildren since 1994, and significant changes have occurred in the different types of bullying behaviours. Consistent patterns were observed between types of bullying behaviours, and health behaviour, since pupils engaged in bullying were more likely to be smokers and to have been drunk several times. Strong associations were observed between disliking school and being engaged in bullying, whether this was as a victim, a bully, or both. There was no clear patterning of associations when it came to health indicators, except for significantly higher odds of stomach ache for the bullies, and sleeping difficulties and low self-rated health for pupils both being bullied and bullying others. CONCLUSIONS: Being engaged in bullying is widespread among Greenlandic schoolchildren and is found to be associated with disliking school and detrimental health behaviours.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Do adolescents' own intentions regarding healthy behaviours affect outcome? A two-year prospective study.

Adolescents' own intentions regarding health behaviours, in addition to their context, are believed to be important for the health habits they chose. This was studied prospectively over a 2-y period. A total of 552 students, 391 aged 13 y and 161 aged 15 y, reported their health and problem behaviours, socioeconomic background and intentions regarding health behaviours through questionnaires in 1991 and in 1993. Outcome dealt with three domains: health habits; acquisition of adult lifestyles; and problem behaviours. The material was analysed for correlations. Significant results were entered into multiple regression stepwise procedures. As expected, already having initiated adult lifestyles or problem behaviours were the most important factors associated with such behaviours 2 y later. Further analyses were then limited to those students who had not started such lifestyles, in order to determine what factors kept them from doing so in a 2-y span. Key predictors for healthy behaviours were adolescents' own decisions not to engage in adult lifestyles or risky behaviours, family processes consistent with support and school satisfaction. Association with peer groups where smoking and drinking were commonplace predicted less optimal behaviours. Gender or socioeconomic factors were not predictive. The results support a comprehensive approach to health promotion during adolescence.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Three young children with Smith-Magenis syndrome: their distinct, recognisable behavioural phenotype as the most important clinical symptoms.

We report on the development and behaviour of three young children with Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS), del 17p11.2. The behaviour problems and the psychomotor delay in preschool children with SMS are often more striking than the dysmorphic features and can serve as a useful clue to the diagnosis. We compare the behaviour with reported data. The behaviour problems in the three four year olds include very demanding behaviour, severe temper tantrums, hyperactivity, aggressive behaviour, self injurious behaviour, sleeping problems and stereotypic behaviour. Head banging, hand, wrist or finger biting are present. Onychotyllomania is not observed. Insertion of objects in the mouth as well as excessive nose picking is very frequent, although polyembolokoilomania is not present. The so called self hug when excited is present in one child. The behaviour problems and psychomotor delay represent a major management problem for the parents.

Child↗

PubMed2000

Self-care behaviour of patients with heart failure.

Heart failure-related self-care behaviour is important to optimize outcomes for patients with heart failure. Such behaviours include adherence to medication, diet and exercise, but self-care also refers to such things as seeking assistance when symptoms occur, and daily weighing. The study aim was to describe heart failure-related self-care behaviour, to test the effect of education and support on self-care behaviour and to discuss limitations. Data were collected from 128 heart failure patients during their hospital stay and at 1-, 3-, and 9-month follow-ups. Concepts from Orem's general theory of nursing were used to describe heart failure-related self-care behaviour and its limitations. The effects of intensive systematized and planned education from a nurse in hospital and at home were evaluated in an experimental design. Results showed that education enhanced self-care behaviour significantly at 1 and 3 months after discharge. Despite intensive education and support, patients did not manifest all self-care behaviours that might be expected. Patients in both the intervention and control groups described limitations in knowledge, judgement/decision-making and skills. It can be concluded that supportive-educative intervention is effective in enhancing heart failure-related self-care behaviour early after discharge. To optimize such intervention, more emphasis must be placed on behavioural strategies (e.g. self-medication), social support (e.g. from family members) and reinforcement (e.g. home visits).

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[A standardized cognitive-behavioural group treatment program for obsessive compulsive disorder: preliminary outcomes].

This study provides preliminary outcome data about the efficacy of a cognitive behavioural group therapy program for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Twenty patients were studied, 19 completed the group and one dropped out (5%), Twelve patients were evaluated at 6 month follow-up (40% of drop-outs). All were outpatients who received a primary DSM IV diagnosis of OCD. All evaluations were performed before and after the beginning of the group. Evaluations involved: 1) one or more face-to-face interviews, 2) scales or questionnaires which are designed to provide information relevant to anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), OCD symptoms (YBOCS, four target rituals and four target obsessions) and OCD cognitive measures (Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire: OBQ). The patients completed a 12-week closed-ended treatment program. The group meets once a week for 3 hours. The first 6 sessions included cognitive therapy and the 6 other sessions focused on behaviour therapy. During the first session of each technique, workbooks are provided and discussed with the patients. During the cognitive treatment of the weekly group, patients apply the cognitive therapy of Salkovskis during the sessions and at home. The therapy focused on challenging OCD appraisals and beliefs through various cognitive techniques. During the 6 last sessions explanations of behavioural therapy techniques are done then the patients practiced in vivo and imaginal exposures and response prevention. Morever, each patient received an exposure homework practice. Then six monthly meeting dates are scheduled and patients are encouraged to carry on homeworks. The sample included 12 women and 8 men and the mean age at intake was 37 (SD=9.33) years. Eighteen of the patients were taking medication for their OCD symptoms before and concurrent with group participation. The sample had a mean education of 15 (SD=3) years. Average symptom duration was 14 (SD=9) years. Significant reduction in YBOCS and obsessive beliefs (OBQ) were observed for subjects following treatment. A repeated measure analysis of variance failed to find a significant difference at post-test in Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. On main targets (four target rituals and four target obsessions) of the therapy, there was a change after the introduction of the cognitive therapy. There was no change between the cognitive therapy and the behaviour therapy. The difference was only maintained after the complete program. Extending the duration of the group to behaviour therapy did not enhance eventual outcomes. Clinical impressions suggested that behaviour therapy helped to maintain the results in the long term. The present study also demonstrated that most patients maintained gains made during the group at 6-month follow-up. Maintenance of gains was apparent for both the YBOCS and target symptoms (rituals and obsessions). However, there was no change in depression. At pre-test, the OCD patients had a mean score of 18, which is a mild level. Interestingly, there was a significant difference at 6 months in the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The anxiety level needed more time to decrease than OCD symptoms. Cognitive and behaviour therapy delivered in group was effective in decreasing OCD symptom severity and produced a decrease in all but one of the cognitive measures, the estimation of the threat. The result obtained at the end of the therapy was not sufficient at the follow up. This belief was common in all the anxiety disorders and was not specific of OCD. This clinical study is the first report of a cognitive and behavioural group program for OCD. Despite the limitations of this study, it demonstrates the utility of cognitive behaviour group therapy as an effective and efficient treatment of OCD.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Queen Elizabeth Behavioural Assessment Graphical System.

The Queen Elizabeth Behavioural Assessment Graphical Scale (QEBAGS) is presented as a new, descriptive rating method for documenting behavioural disturbances in a variety of clinical settings. The scale utilises three categories of behavioural disturbances which may occur in isolation or may co-exist. These are documented on a graphical plot across a 24 hours' time span. Neither diagnostic information nor severity of a particular behavioural disturbance needs to be interpreted before a rating on each parameter can be made, thus allowing its use by any intelligent observer, including a carer at home. Documenting of behavioural disturbance across day and night, by intermittent or regular observations, provides valuable information on the time, course and pattern of behavioural disturbance, from which diagnostic and therapeutic directions can be inferred. In preliminary clinical use, the scale has improved documentation of behavioural disturbance and communication between health professionals about such behaviour and its management. The scale also has the potential to provide supportive documentation for the Resident Classification Index in Nursing Homes and Personal Care Assessment Index in Hostels. The scale is most effective in situations where moderate to severe disturbance of behaviour is present. Where there is little or no disturbance, the system is unlikely to be of benefit. Clinical examples of its utility are presented.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Clustering of risk behaviours for oral and general health.

UNLABELLED: While it is recognised that risk behaviours for general health tend to cluster among individuals, it is less clear whether risk behaviours for oral health co-occur among these same individuals. OBJECTIVES: To describe the distribution of health-relevant behaviours in a population sample, to examine whether oral and general risk behaviours cluster among individuals and to identify population groups with a shared risk profile. METHODS: Self-reported data were obtained from a stratified random sample of adults aged 18+ who participated in the 2002 National Dental Telephone Interview Survey and completed a subsequent mailed questionnaire (n = 3,132). Data were weighted to represent a simple random sample of Australian adults and analysis was limited to dentate adults. RESULTS: Four oral health behaviours (toothbrushing frequency, interdental cleaning, exposure to non-milk extrinsic sugars, usual reason for a dental visit) and four general health behaviours (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, Body Mass Index) were dichotomised. K-means cluster analysis identified two readily interpretable groups that differed significantly on each behaviour apart from alcohol consumption (ANOVA; p = 0.77). A significant relationship emerged between cluster memberships and sociodemographic characteristics. Over-represented in the risk behaviour group (40.7% of the sample) were males, young adults, Australian born, those who did not live in a major city, adults who rented their housing and those adults with lower levels of education and household income (Chi square; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The interrelatedness of oral and general risk behaviours and their sociodemographic associations supports the tailoring of integrated oral and general health promotion messages and services to targeted population groups.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

[Recognizing and assessing aggressive behaviour in dogs].

Within the population the sensitivity to aggressive behaviour in dogs has increased. The authorities are confronted with a problem: if any incident occurs it is their task to decide whether the dogs involved constitute a threat to other people or whether the charge is only the result of a quarrel between neighbours. For this reason, an examination of the dogs with regard to their aggressive behaviour is necessary. Seen from the biological point of view, aggressive behaviour is one of four possibilities a dog can chose from to solve a conflict. The dog's intention in showing aggressive behaviour is to eliminate disturbances and to maintain a distance in space and time. Aggressive behaviour might also be necessary to acquire or defend resources essential to the dog's life. This is to secure its survival and its success in reproduction. One can see from this that aggressive behaviour is a very important and biologically necessary adjustment factor. However, when living together with man aggressive behaviour might become a problem. For the assessment and the therapy of the problem it is necessary to exa-mine the behaviour shown by the dog with regard to its cause. To be able to do this an exact anamnesis, a medical check, and an examination of the dog on the basis of its display in special situations are necessary. For this reason, exclusively veterinarians with a special further education in the field of behaviour should carry out the examination of dogs.

Aggression↗

PubMed1991

Psychosocial predictors of reported HIV-preventive behaviour change among adults in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

In order to reduce HIV transmission, improved understanding of factors that motivate safer sexual behaviour is needed. The Health Belief Model attempts to explain health-related behaviour, including HIV-preventive behaviour. The association of six elements of this model--AIDS knowledge, perceived susceptibility to HIV infection, perceived effectiveness of HIV-preventive measures, self-efficacy, barriers to behaviour change, accessibility of health care/advice and social support for safer sexual behaviour--to three indices of HIV-related behavioural risk reduction--reduced number of sexual partners, increased consistency of condom use and (among males only) reduced prostitute contact--was examined by self-report inventory among 202 men and 100 women in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Multiple logistic regression identified social support for behaviour change, followed by accessibility of health care/advice, as the most consistent predictors of risk reduction across sex and outcome measures. The remaining predictors were not consistently associated with behaviour change. It is concluded that AIDS campaigns must foster the perception that there is concerted normative support for HIV-related behaviour change and that community and small group, face-to-face AIDS education, which may have more impact on perceived social support than mass media campaigns, must be emphasised.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1990

Behavioural responses affecting gilt and sow reproduction.

Behavioural responses can have direct effects on reproduction when the performance of the behaviour contributes to productivity (e.g. achievement of copulation). Alternatively, there are indirect effects where a behavioural change is insufficient to allow adaptation to an environmental change and so the animal has to resort to physiological mechanisms with potential adverse effects on productivity. Boar contact has substantial effects on a number of female behaviours that can directly affect her productivity. Either daily introduction to a boar or continuous housing adjacent to boars is effective in stimulating the onset of oestrus in weaned sows. In addition, daily boar contact is necessary to maintain ovarian activity in post-pubertal gilts. The efficiency of the back-pressure test (BPT) in detecting sexually receptive females depends on females receiving intense and close boar contact at the time of testing. However, there are situations in which continuous stimulation from boars may adversely affect sexual behaviour; continuous housing of gilts adjacent to boars, with a wire-mesh division separating them, reduces the efficiency of detection of oestrus by means of the BPT or a boar. There is some evidence to indicate that housing weaned sows adjacent to boars may adversely affect the duration of oestrus but not detection rate of oestrus. The effects of female contact on productivity are generally indirect with physiological responses (rather than behavioural responses) to suboptimal group size, space allowance or housing system predominantly responsible for any adverse effects on reproduction. The literature on the effects of individual or group housing on reproduction is equivocal, but there is a trend for a reduced conception rate or pregnancy rate in individual housing. Group size and space allowance may affect the efficiency of detection of oestrus. A space allowance of 1 m2/animal appears to affect detection of oestrus adversely for gilts, probably via a chronic stress response associated with overcrowding. The literature on the effects of group size on sexual behaviour of female pigs is also equivocal, perhaps because in some studies there were suboptimal space allowances. Nevertheless, there appear to be problems with detection of oestrus in very small groups and in large groups. The effects of human contact on female reproduction are indirect. There are no direct effects on the sexual behaviour of female pigs and the effects on reproduction are probably mediated by a chronic stress response. High levels of fear of humans may depress the reproductive performance of pigs and this fear response is probably affected by the behaviour of the stockperson.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1977

[The comparison of human reflex and instinct behaviour (author's transl)].

On the basis of characteristics of the exteroceptive reflexes and of the instincts it was shown that instinct behaviour developed from reflex characteristics (local characteristic of the stimuli, pos. and neg. taxis, habituation, conditioning). Most similarities are found between reflex and avoidance instinct behaviour (instincts for excretion, thermoregulation, body care, pain avoidance and safety). Except the safety instinct, all others react on stimuli, characterised by the localisation of the receptors. In the safety instinct the structure of the stimulus becomes important, together with the growing importance of the third dimension. This instinct shows also for the first time a variability of the threshold with spontaneous remaining low for some time after stimulation of the system. Inverse the gain instincts (nutrition, sex and social instinct). Here the threshold falls spontaneously, when stimuli are lacking and raises, when stimuli are found. The spontaneous motor expression of the lowering of the threshold is the appetite behaviour. It means seeking stimuli, which will be gained by elements of the initial and terminal success behaviour. The successfull nutritional and sexual behaviour is stopped by success inhibition, whereas the social instinct remains in the terminal success behaviour with group dynamic hierarchy, with imitating and helping behaviour. Overchanging of the gain instincts provokes avoidance behaviour with constant threshold. The neural systems of most reflexes lie distributed in the spinal cord and brainstem, the ones of the instincts in the limbic part of the brain, the nutrition and sex instinct with a hypothalamic pacemaker. Simultaneous activation of two or many instinct motivation systems result, not comparable with the direct reflex interaction, in interactions on the level of the global interaction, in interactions on the level of the global integration (summation, mixture, synthesis, rest, oscillation, intention) which projects the activity patterns via the motor cortex to the peripheral neurons. There it is completed by the reflexes. The hormonal and vegetative projection instead go directly to the end organs. The motivation is responsible for the subjective experience, the dominating integration with its motor projection for the instinct behaviour.

Behavior↗

PubMed1995

Behavioural interventions in the control of human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted diseases--a review.

In the absence of an effective cure or vaccine, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) preventive measures have focused on education and information to prevent and reduce high risk behaviours associated with AIDS/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Strategies to change behaviour can be divided into 4 stages: information dissemination, motivation and persuasion, self-efficacy and skills development, and community support to sustain behavioural change. This paper discusses the application of behaviour change and social learning theories to control the spread of AIDS/HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. A review of the effectiveness of behavioural interventions among high risk groups such as homosexuals, intravenous drug users, commercial sex workers and adolescents is also outlined. A deeper understanding of and an increased attention to social network, organisational, cultural and environmental factors influencing behaviour is needed for the implementation of behavioural interventions. Behavioural strategies that focus on the individual must be supplemented with efforts to create economic, political and social environments that support the behavioural change.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1996

Behavioural effects of prenatal and postnatal undernutrition in rats.

Effects of pre- and post-natal undernutrition on anxiety and depression paradigms were studied in albino rats. Prenatal undernutrition was induced in rat pups by restricting the dam's daily food during the gestation period whereas postnatal undernutrition in rat pups was induced by rotating them between lactating and non-lactating maternalised females daily for 12 hr during suckling period from 2nd to 18th day after birth. At 2.5 to 3 months of age all the rat pups were subjected to (i) elevated plus maze behaviour, (ii) open-field behaviour, and (iii) swimming induced behavioural despair tests. The results indicate that postnatal undernutrition caused significantly increased anxiety in the elevated plus maze as well as in open-field behaviour tests. Whereas prenatal undernourishment caused lesser degree of anxiogenic behaviours in the elevated plus maze test. Prenatally undernourished rats showed increased anxiety in the open-field behaviour test. Both, pre- and post-natal undernutrition also lead to increased depressive behaviour in the behavioural despair test and postnatal undernourishment caused greater degree of behavioural despair.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed1997

Behaviour problems in children with new-onset epilepsy.

Behaviour problems are common in children with epilepsy and it is not known when these problems begin. Some suggest that behaviour problems are caused by a neurological condition that also causes the seizures. Behaviour problems were investigated in 42 youths (23 girls and 19 boys) over a 4-month period beginning at the time of the initial seizure. Subjects were aged 4-15 years (mean, M = 8.4). Approximately 57% had partial seizure(s) and 43% had generalized seizure(s). The large majority (71%) were diagnosed with epilepsy. As a part of a larger study, parents rated their children's behaviour on the Child Behaviour Checklist immediately prior to the first seizure (time 1), and at 4 months after the first seizure (time 2). Seizure severity was rated as follows: high = 20%, moderate = 39%, and low = 41%. At time 1, 24% already had behaviour problems. Behaviour problems significantly decreased from time 1 to time 2 (P < 0.001) for the whole group. Within the epilepsy group (n = 40), differences were found in behaviour problems based on seizure severity from time 1 to time 2 as follows: low, time 1: M = 55, time 2: M = 45; moderate, time 1: M = 55, time 2: M = 51; and high, time 1: M = 61, time 2: M = 55. Results indicate that children should be assessed for behaviour problems at the time of the first seizure.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1993

The role of corticotropin-releasing factor in behavioural responses to stress.

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), when administered directly into the CNS, can have activating properties on behaviour and can enhance behavioural responses to stress. CRF injected intraventricularly produces a dose-dependent increase in locomotor activity and increased responsiveness to an acoustic startle stimulus. However, this profile of activation changes to enhanced suppression of behaviour in stressful situations and includes increased freezing, increased conditioned suppression, increased conflict, decreased feeding and decreased behaviour in a novel open field. These effects of CRF are independent of the pituitary-adrenal axis and can be reversed by the CRF antagonist alpha-helical CRF(9-41). More importantly, the CRF antagonist can also reverse many behavioural responses to stressors. alpha-Helical CRF(9-41) reverses stress-induced fighting behaviour, stress-induced freezing, stress-induced suppression of feeding, stress-induced decreases in exploration of an elevated plus maze, fear-potentiated startle and the development of conditioned suppression. Intracerebral microinjections suggest that the amygdala may be an important site for the anti-stress effects of alpha-helical CRF(9-41). These results suggest that endogenous CRF systems in the CNS may have a role in mediating behavioural responses to stress and further suggest that CRF in the brain may function as a fundamental behavioural activating system. This CRF system may be particularly important in situations where an organism must mobilize not only the pituitary-adrenal system but also the CNS in response to environmental challenge.

Animals↗