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DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-14461
Sozialer Rang und Depression - ein Beispiel „evolutionärer Psychopathologie”
Social rank and depression - an example of „evolutionary psychopathology”Publication History
Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)
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Zusammenfassung:
Affektive Störungen sind pathologische Auslenkungen von vermutlich phylogenetisch alten psychologischen Mechanismen, deren adaptive Funktion im evolutionsbiologischen Sinn umstritten ist. Nach der Rangordnungshypothese affektiver Störungen basieren depressive Syndrome auf der Aktivierung eines Mechanismus, der der nachhaltigen Unterordnung in kompetitiven Situationen dient und das Individuum vor den Folgen ungehemmt eskalierender Auseinandersetzungen schützt. Der vorliegende Aufsatz diskutiert kritisch, inwieweit eine solche Annahme durch biologische, klinische und psychologische Befunde gestützt wird. In Tiermodellen zeigen sich Parallelen im Erscheinungsbild von Subordination und Depression. Für Primaten charakteristisch ist die hohe Bedeutung von affiliativen Verhaltensweisen und von sozialen Bindungen für das Rangverhalten. Biochemische und pharmakologische Gemeinsamkeiten von Subordinationsverhalten und Depression umfassen eine Aktivierung der Stress-Achse, verminderte serotonerge Neurotransmission und Beeinflussbarkeit durch Antidepressiva. Ungeklärt ist bei vielen Tiermodellen noch die Frage der Abgrenzbarkeit spezifischer sozialer Unterordnung von einer unspezifischen Stressreaktion. Klinische und psychologische Aspekte depressiver Syndrome sind teilweise vereinbar mit einer Deutung als übersteigerte submissive Reaktion. Das Erleben und Verhalten Depressiver und die psychosoziale Auslösung depressiver Syndrome sind jedoch nur selten unter dem Aspekt der Rangordnungshypothese untersucht worden, sodass über klinisch plausible Zusammenhänge hinaus bisher nur wenige unterstützende empirische Daten vorliegen. Eine Grenze für die Rangordnungshypothese bilden die typisch endogen-phasisch verlaufenden Depressionen und die bipolaren Störungen. Zwar ist gerade das Erscheinungsbild der bipolaren Erkrankungen vereinbar mit der pathologischen Auslenkung eines Affektsystems, das der Regulierung von Dominanz und Submission dient, die pathologische Auslenkbarkeit selbst ist aber durch die Rangordnungshypothese allein nicht befriedigend erklärbar.
Social Rank and Depression - An Example of „Evolutionary Psychopathology”:
Affective disorders are pathological alterations of phylogenetically old emotional mechanisms the adaptive function of which is still a matter of debate. According to the social competition hypothesis, depressive syndromes involve activation of a mechanism serving subordination in competitive situations. This mechanism protects the individual from the damaging consequences of an escalating agonistic encounter. The paper critically discusses supporting evidence culled from biological, clinical and psychological findings. Animal models show phenomenological similarities between subordination and depression. In primates affiliative behavior and social bonding are closely linked to rank-related behaviors. Common biochemical and pharmacological features of subordination and depression include an activation of the stress axis, diminished serotonergic neurotransmission and modification by antidepressants. However, the discrimination between a specific subordination reaction and an unspecific stress response is often controversial. Many clinical and psychological aspects of depressive syndromes may be understood as an - exaggerated - submissive behavior, but have rarely been studied in that light. Typical endogenous depression and bipolar disorders challenge the social competition hypothesis. While the manic syndrome, due to its similarity to dominance behavior, supports the link between social competition and affective disorders, the cyclic alteration of mood cannot be sufficiently explained by the social competition hypothesis alone.
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