early maternal rejection causes lower serotonin levels

Very interesting and relevant study, for those of us whose children came to us through adoption after being separated from, or abused/neglected by, birth mothers. This will be of particular interest for those of us raising post-institutionalized children. Infant monkeys whose mothers were abusive or rejecting ending up having lower serotonin levels as adults, lower than those monkeys whose mothers were more accepting and non-abusive. This low serotonin level, in turn, led those monkeys who were rejected by their mothers, to be rejecting and abusive to their own infants. This study is concentrating on the theory that it's caused by low serotonin, rather than some kind of imitative behavior.

Here's the link:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061102092229.htm

N and A, still together

The lovefest between N and A continues. There've been a few spats, sure, but overall, they're stilll doing very well together. This afternoon, N read three books to her. They spent at least an hour, probably more, playing "baby" together this morning, taking her dolls' temperatures, giving them shots, etc. They have an imaginary pet called "Dogbot," part robot, part dog, I guess. No doubt about it, N is functioning better-- FUNCTIONING better--on the Zoloft. That's the bottom line, I guess. It is making him more functional in life, everywhere. It has not solved the problems, but he's just easier to manage these days, and the blowups are milder. There's some low self-esteem talk, still, but not so much. He does get into the wacko violent talk a little, still, but there's much less of it. We are slowly, very slowly, increasing his dosage of Zoloft to try and get the maximum benefit possible without pushing him into mania.

article -- serotonin and judgement

N continues to improve on the Zoloft, an SSRI, which boosts the level of serotonin in the brain. Tonight at dinner, he said "Every day is a gift from God." This doesn't sound like the N from the last couple of years. He has been playing, and playing WELL, with his sister almost constantly. Just a few weeks ago, we had to basically keep them apart most of the time because he was so volatile and would strike out at her for almost anything, with absolutely no warning. He said the most horrible things to her and threatened her terribly. He didn't even want to play with her most of the time. He seems much more relaxed and less irritable. It's really quite a striking change.

Now, things aren't perfect by any means. He is still N., and he is still difficult. But I'd say there's probably been at least a fifty percent overall improvement in his mood and behavior. That's remarkable. I know it's the Zoloft. Anyway, here's an article that describes N's problems to an uncanny degree, and links it to low serotonin, which is remedied (usually) by an SSRI.

Dinner tonight was weird--so peaceful. He even LOOKED different. I guess if you're not scowling all the time, and you're not always on the verge of blowing up, maybe your face might look more pleasant, normal, and relaxed. And if you're not so tense and hypervigilant, you can actually look NORMALLY happy and ok and peaceful, so that when you are in a good mood, you're not bouncing off the walls and acting like a caged monkey on speed. I don't know, he just looked . . . normal, when his eyes met mine. He wasn't his usual roller-coaster self, but not zombied out, either.

Anyway, here's the link: It's from the Society for Neuroscience.

http://www.sfn.org/index.cfm?pagename=brainBriefings_serotoninAndJudgment

great research site for FASD

Here's a site I found -- NOFAS (National Organization for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) with TONS of links to research studies showing the devastating effects of alcohol on a fetus, and later on the child and adult, as well. It is linked to ADHD, severe behavior problems, lowered iq, school failure, violence, incarceration.

A study on FASD rate in a Russian baby home in Murmansk is available on this page. The rate of facial feautures consistent with prenatal alcohol exposure was MANY times higher than in the general population, and that's only the babies with the facial features. Many more will have problems just as severe, though they may look perfectly normal. There was also a study of a Russian internat school, basically an orphanage for older kids, and the rate there was also, expectedly, very high.

It's hypothesized, and there's even some emerging evidence, that very intense early intervention in the form of constant stimulation, interaction, and nurturing can greatly improve outcomes for kids with FASD--but here's the catch: It has to be done in the FIRST TWO YEARS OF LIFE. Obviously, a child in an orphanage won't be getting this in their infancy and toddlerhood. Does it suggest that the damage from FASD could be even greater when the opposite is true? When the baby and toddler does not even receive the basic nurturing that any child needs? When their mother is unavailable, which is just about the worst thing that can happen to a human infant?

Those of us parenting Russian adoptees will not be surprised with this research. Here's the NOFAS site:

http://www.nofas.org/news/FASDnews.aspx

update on zoloft

N. is still on a super-low dosage of Zoloft, and it's definitely working. Hasn't improved his impulse control, self-regulation or any kind of behavior, but it's doing what it's supposed to do, which is make him happier. WAY less morbid talk, and in general, his mood is brighter. He's as difficult as ever, but seems happy, anyway. He sees the endicronologist tomorrow about his awful weight gain, and I'm hoping she might order us, more or less, to take him off Lithium again. Last time, we ended up putting him back on, but this time, who knows? He is erratic and difficult on meds and off, so perhaps we can try again.