title: Intranasal oxytocin reduces psychotic symptoms and improves Theory of Mind and social perception in schizophrenia.
abstract: Oxytocin has numerous prosocial and antipsychotic-like effects in animals. Prosocial effects of acute intranasal oxytocin administration have also been reported in human subjects. We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial testing the effects of twice daily intranasal oxytocin treatment for 14 days on psychotic symptoms and social cognition in patients with schizophrenia. PANSS scores declined significantly and several social cognition measures improved significantly or nearly significantly in oxytocin (N=11) but not placebo (N=9) recipients. Our results suggest that, in addition to reducing classic psychotic symptoms, oxytocin may diminish certain social cognition deficits that are not improved by current antipsychotic medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry CB# 7160, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States. cort_pedersen@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Cort A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Clare M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Shane W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Rau
authors.forename: Kayvon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salimi
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Smedley
authors.forename: Robin L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leserman
authors.forename: L Fredrik
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Jarskog
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Penn
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012938:Social Perception; D056345:Theory of Mind / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010121:Oxytocin