Self-Injurious behavior in rhesus macaques: Issues and challenges

Area of Science:

• Primate behavior
• Animal welfare science
• Veterinary behavioral medicine

Background:

• Monkeys in research settings can develop abnormal behaviors, including self-injurious behavior (SIB).
• The prevalence and underlying causes of SIB in laboratory settings are not fully understood.
• Individual differences significantly impact SIB manifestation and treatment response.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the causes and contributing factors of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in research monkeys.
• Identify effective treatment and prevention strategies for SIB.
• Understand the role of individual differences in SIB development and response to interventions.

Main Methods:

• Characterized SIB prevalence and associated environmental factors.
• Observed SIB and control monkeys to identify triggers and potential precipitating factors (e.g., sleep, disease).
• Evaluated reinforcement models (tension reduction, self-stimulation, social communication) and tested treatments (enrichment, social housing, pharmacotherapy).

Main Results:

• No single treatment has completely eliminated SIB; individual differences affect treatment efficacy.
• Identified colony management and health record risk factors for SIB.
• Prevention efforts focus on reducing early life stress, promoting pair housing, and using positive reinforcement for procedures.

Conclusions:

• SIB in research monkeys is a multifactorial disorder influenced by individual differences.
• Current treatments are not universally effective, highlighting the need for personalized approaches.
• Preventive strategies targeting early life stress and housing conditions show promise for reducing SIB incidence.