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Oxytocin effective treatment for social deficits in children with autism
Intranasal oxytocin can improve social functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder, with specific benefits observed for signaling deficits, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“Emerging evidence suggests that the neuropeptide oxytocin, which regulates mammalian social functioning, may be a promising treatment for ASD,” Karen J. Parker, PhD, from the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, and colleagues wrote. “However, prior oxytocin treatment trials in ASD patients have produced equivocal results, perhaps because of variability in patients’ underlying neuropeptide biology.”
To determine whether oxytocin can act as a treatment for those with social deficits caused by ASD, the researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel design trial in which the efficacy and tolerability of a 4-week course of intranasal oxytocin were tested. Thirty-two children with ASD were included in the study, and all were between the ages of 6 and 12 years.
When compared with placebo and when pretreatment neuropeptide measures were included in the model, oxytocin significantly improved social skills in children with ASD. Treatment responses could be predicted by concentrations of oxytocin in blood levels in that those with the lowest concentrations of oxytocin benefited the most from treatment.
The effects of treatment were specific to social functioning, with minimal effect on repetitive behaviors and anxiety. Oxytocin treatment was well-tolerated by participants. An increase in social functioning was observed in those within the placebo group with a reflective increased concentration of oxytocin in the blood.
“There has been recent discussion about the prudence of pediatric oxytocin use when its long-term consequences are unknown,” Parker and colleagues wrote. “Although longitudinal studies to address this concern are needed, chronic oxytocin administration is generally well-tolerated by children with ASD.” — by Katherine Bortz
Disclosure: The researcher provides no relevant financial disclosures.