Methods for reducing chronic stress in mammals

• US 20020146469A1
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Wiegand, Benjamin, Dean, Kathryn, McCulloch, Laura
• Application Number:
  US10/012,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20020146469A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/725
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/00 Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/02 for peripheral neuropathies
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/22 Anxiolytics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/24 Antidepressants
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/02 of the hypothalamic hormones, e.g. TRH, GnRH, CRH, GRH, somatostatin
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/46 for decreasing, blocking or antagonising the activity of glucocorticosteroids

Abstract

This invention relates to methods for reducing chronic stress in mammals by administering a sensory regimen which reduces or down-regulates the activity of the HPA axis. The activity of the HPA axis of the mammal may be downregulated by at least one of the following methods: (1) reducing the amount of total daily adrenocortical hormone; (2) reducing adrenocortical hormone at any time point in the period from about 4 to about 8 hours following morning waking; (3) reducing the total daily adrenocortical hormone minus the integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone. Generally, the sensory regimen is selected from the group consisting of auditory stimuli, visual stimuli, tactile stimuli, gustatory stimuli, olfactory stimuli and combinations thereof.

Claims

1. A method for reducing chronic stress in a mammal by downregulating the activity of the HPA axis by administering to said mammal an effective amount of a sensory regimen.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sensory regimen includes the administration of a CRH antagonist or an antidepressant.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the activity of the HPA axis is downregulated by reducing the amount of total daily adrenocortical hormone in said mammal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the total daily adrenocortical hormone is cortisol.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein cortisol is reduced by at least about 5 to about 50%, based on the total daily cortisol present, in said mammal at the start of said regimen.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein cortisol is reduced by at least about 10 to about 40%, based on the total daily cortisol present in said mammal at the start of said regimen.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein cortisol is reduced by at least about 15 to about 30%, based on the total daily cortisol present in said mammal at the start of said regimen.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the reduction occurs within a period of about 1 to about 14 days from the start of the regimen.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the reduction is maintained for a period of 1 day to 2 years.

10. A method of improving the quality of life of an individual comprising reducing chronic stress according to the method of claim 1.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the activity of the HPA axis is downregulated by reducing adrenocortical hormone in said mammal at any time point in the period from about 4 to about 8 hours following morning waking.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the adrenocortical hormone is cortisol.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein cortisol is reduced by about, 5 to about 60%, based on the amount of cortisol present in said mammal at the start of said regimen.

14. The method of claim 12. wherein cortisol is reduced by about 10 to about 60%, based on the amount of cortisol present in said mammal at the start of said regimen.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein cortisol is reduced by about 20 to about 50%, based on the amount of cortisol present in said mammal at the start of said regimen.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the reduction occurs within a period of 1 to 14 days from the start of the regimen

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the reduction is maintained for a period of 1 day to 2 years.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein the activity of the HPA axis is downregulated by reducing the total daily adrenocortical hormone minus the integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone in said mammal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the adrenocortical hormone is cortisol.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein cortisol is reduced by about 5 to about 70%, based on the amount of cortisol present in said mammal at the start of said regimen.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein cortisol is reduced by about 10 to about 60%, eased on the amount of cortisol present in said mammal at the start of said regimen.

22. She method of claim 19, wherein cortisol is reduced by about 20 to about 50%, based on the amount of cortisol present in said mammal at the start of said regimen.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the reduction occurs within a period of 1 to 14days from the start of the regimen.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the reduction is maintained for a period of f day to 2 years.