Shy Smile Support Site for people with Social Challenges

Secretin, the 'sociable hormone' may soon be administered to help social problems.

It is only currently available intravenously and its use is not widespread, but tablet versions may be developed following recent research.

Yurgelun-Todd (Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA), and his team, conducted research on twelve healthy adult males, and the results have crucial clinical implications for people with depression, social or bipolar disorders. Participants were monitored using Magnetic resonance, after supplements of secretin or placebo.

The results revealed a significant improvement in sociability, and the regions of the brain affected by such disorders as Social Anxiety Phobia Disorder, OCD and Trichotillomania are likely to be significantly improved.

The liberation of this area of the brain by secretin could lead to more eye contact and more interpersonal interaction among people with a variety of disorders, dramatically increasing their day-to-day functioning.

While the research has helped to identify possible hormonal help for those with disorders affected by social anxiety, such help is unlikely to be available for some considerable time.