The human being is a 'social animal', programmed by evolution to interact with others. And indeed, social relationships can shape the brain. Loneliness, isolation or the presence of toxic friendships, especially during adolescence, can increase the risk of developing psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression, and lead to substance use. The Italian psychiatrists gathered today in Bormio for the XXV national conference “Social Brain. Evolutionary trajectories and pathology”. Over 50 reports and symposiums, around 200 experts from various psychiatric or psychiatry-related disciplines.
“The social brain is one of our main resources for overcoming the challenges posed by the environment and finds its basis in the relational abilities of the human being, according to an evolutionary perspective of the study of the mind, human nature and social interactions – he explains Emi Bondi, co-president of the conference and of the Italian Society of Psychiatry, director of the mental health department at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo – Refined neuroimaging techniques on humans in vivo allow us to document the continuous interaction between events and communication environmental on the one hand and brain plasticity on the other, in a 'dialogue' with different health outcomes starting from situations of distress or vice versa of more harmonious growth. The brain develops in the context of relationships – he underlines – the people around us play an important role in regulating our emotional and social behavior.”
A study of 23,500 boys, aged 10 to 12, by Fudan University in China, published in eLife, showed that friendships are crucial during the transition from late childhood to adolescence. In this phase the brain develops a lot and children, if isolated, are more likely to develop forms of anxiety and depression. According to researchers, the “perfect number” of close friends to have is 5: they promote better academic performance and better general mental health. But it's not just the quantity, but also the quality of relationships.
“In addition to social isolation, abuse in developmental age as well as the dynamics of domestic violence also produce negative repercussions on individual and corporate well-being – highlights Claudio Mencacci, the other co-president of the conference and director emeritus of Neuroscience at Fatebenefratelli-Sacco Hospital in Milan – They are also precursors of the intergenerational transmission of unfavorable behavioral models. All of this points to a problematic relationship with mental health that increases victims' chances of developing a variety of psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, psychosis, but also suicidal ideation, self-harm and attempted suicide”.
According to specialists, it is therefore “fundamental” not to underestimate the relational aspect in the life of a teenager, paying close attention to the relationships they establish on social media. “We are faced with a crucial public health issue that calls for mental health professionals and services of all age groups to guarantee prevention and assistance for populations at risk”, concludes Bondi.
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