Long-term oxytocin administration improves social behaviors in a girl with autistic disorder.
BACKGROUND
Patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) exhibit core autistic symptoms including social impairments from early childhood and mostly show secondary disabilities such as irritability and aggressive behavior based on core symptoms. However, there are still no radical treatments of social impairments in these patients. Oxytocin has been reported to play important roles in multiple social behaviors dependent on social recognition, and has been expected as one of the effective treatments of social impairments of patients with ASDs.


METHODS
We present a case of a 16-year-old girl with autistic disorder who treated by long-term administration of oxytocin nasal spray. Her autistic symptoms were successfully treated by two month administration; the girl's social interactions and social communication began to improve without adverse effects. Her irritability and aggressive behavior also improved dramatically with marked decreases in aberrant behavior checklist scores from 69 to 7.


CONCLUSIONS
This case is the first to illustrate long-term administration of oxytocin nasal spray in the targeted treatment of social impairments in a female with autistic disorder. This case suggests that long-term nasal oxytocin spray is promising and well-tolerated for treatment of social impairments of patients with ASDs.
Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji, Fukui, Japan. hirotaka@u-fukui.ac.jp
Hirotaka
H
Kosaka
Toshio
T
Munesue
Makoto
M
Ishitobi
Mizuki
M
Asano
Masao
M
Omori
Makoto
M
Sato
Akemi
A
Tomoda
Yuji
Y
Wada
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012919:Social Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010121:Oxytocin