The Effect of Intranasal Oxytocin on Measures of Social Cognition in Schizophrenia: A Negative Report

Overview

Journal J Psychiatr Brain Sci

Date 2019 May 1

PMID 31037274

Citations 6

Authors

Mary R Lee

Heidi J Wehring

Robert P McMahon

Fang Liu

Jared Linthicum

Robert W Buchanan

Gregory P Strauss

Leah H Rubin

Deanna L Kelly

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Social cognition is impaired in patients with schizophrenia and is related to functional outcome. Neither current pharmacologic treatments for psychotic symptoms nor psychosocial interventions robustly improves measures of social cognition. Given this, the development of adjunctive treatments to improve functional outcome is a rational approach to treatment research in schizophrenia. The neuropeptide oxytocin is a candidate to treat deficits in social cognition due to its prosocial as well as anxiolytic effects. We report here results from a randomized, double-blind, parallel group 3 week clinical trial with daily administration of adjunctive intranasal oxytocin (20 IU twice daily) ( = 13) or placebo ( = 15). We examined the effect of oxytocin administration on measures of 4 domains of social cognition, as well as social functioning. After 3 weeks of oxytocin/placebo dosing, there was no significant difference favoring oxytocin between treatment groups in any outcome measure. These results add to the body of literature examining the effects of oxytocin on social cognition in schizophrenia. Further study is warranted.

Citing Articles

Intranasal Oxytocin Combined With Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia: An Add-on Randomized Controlled Trial.

Saporta-Wiesel L, Feldman R, Levi L, Davidson M, Burshtein S, Gur R Schizophr Bull Open. 2024; 5(1):sgae022.

PMID: 39502135 PMC: 11535855. DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgae022.

Pharmacological Treatment of Cognitive Impairment Associated With Schizophrenia: State of the Art and Future Perspectives.

Vita A, Nibbio G, Barlati S Schizophr Bull Open. 2024; 5(1):sgae013.

PMID: 39144119 PMC: 11207676. DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgae013.

Exploring a Possible Interplay between Schizophrenia, Oxytocin, and Estrogens: A Narrative Review.

Papadea D, Dalla C, Tata D Brain Sci. 2023; 13(3).

PMID: 36979271 PMC: 10046503. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030461.

Intranasal Peptide Therapeutics: A Promising Avenue for Overcoming the Challenges of Traditional CNS Drug Development.

Bose M, Farias Quipildor G, Ehrlich M, Salton S Cells. 2022; 11(22).

PMID: 36429060 PMC: 9688574. DOI: 10.3390/cells11223629.

The Role of Intranasal Oxytocin on Social Cognition: An Integrative Human Lifespan Approach.

Horta M, Pehlivanoglu D, Ebner N Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2021; 7(4):175-192.

PMID: 33717829 PMC: 7951958. DOI: 10.1007/s40473-020-00214-5.

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