Social rehabilitation of separation-induced depressive disorders in monkeys

Am J Psychiatry. 1976 Nov;133(11):1279-85. doi: 10.1176/ajp.133.11.1279.

Abstract

The authors studied a group of four monkeys reared together, repeatedly separated from each other, and then exposed to another group of four monkeys reared in surrogate-peer groups who acted as therapists. The study group was compared with the therapist monkeys, a group exposed to the same separations but not to the therapist monkeys, a control group that experienced no separations, and two additional groups of stimulus animals. The authors' findings indicate that monkeys showing depressive begaviors after repeated separations can be returned to age-appropriate social performance through repeated exposure to socially active age-mates.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal*
  • Depression / etiology
  • Depression / therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Female
  • Haplorhini
  • Humans
  • Macaca
  • Male
  • Motor Activity
  • Peer Group*
  • Psychotherapy
  • Social Isolation*
  • Socialization