Oxytocin and vasopressin levels in maltreated children: A systematic review

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to focus on the neurobiological basis of childhood maltreatment. Method: A systematic review approach was followed by focusing on the possible links among oxytocin, vasopressin, and child maltreatment. The review included research based on data examining the role that being exposed to any kind of maltreatment during childhood plays. The review was not limited to a specific period. However, reviews, systematic reviews, dissertations, congress papers, and studies in languages other than Turkish and English were excluded. The search was concentrated on the Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, EBSCO Host, and Google Scholar databases including the keyword combinations. Results: The review between December 2021 and April 2022 revealed 49 research studies that reported data from a total of 13979 participants (3981 children and adolescents, 9998 adults). Studies reviewed contained demographically diverse samples from a wide range of Western cultural contexts. Conclusion: The findings are promising in terms of clinical implications as there are considerable links between OXT and child maltreatment. However, more studies are needed to understand the nature of these links.