title: Plasma oxytocin levels predict olfactory identification and negative symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia.
abstract: Basic neuroscience research provides strong evidence for the role of oxytocin in olfactory processes and social affiliation in rodents. Given prior indication of olfactory impairments that are linked to greater severity of asociality in schizophrenia, we examined the association between plasma oxytocin levels and measures of olfaction and social outcome in a sample of outpatients with schizophrenia (n=39) and demographically matched healthy controls (n=21). Participants completed the 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), and rated each odor for how positive and how negative it made them feel. Results indicated that individuals with schizophrenia had higher plasma oxytocin levels and lower overall accuracy for UPSIT items than controls. Individuals with schizophrenia also reported experiencing more negative emotionality than controls in response to the olfactory stimuli. Lower plasma oxytocin levels were associated with poorer accuracy for pleasant and unpleasant odors and greater severity of asociality in individuals with schizophrenia. These findings suggest that endogenous oxytocin levels may be an important predictor of olfactory identification deficits and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY, USA. Electronic address: gstrauss@binghamton.edu.
authors.forename: Gregory P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.affiliation: Maryland Psychiatric Research center and Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Maryland Psychiatric Research center and Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: James I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.affiliation: Maryland Psychiatric Research center and Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ossenfort
authors.affiliation: Maryland Psychiatric Research center and Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Buchanan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009812:Odorants; D055696:Olfactory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood*; D046709:Pattern Recognition, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Emotion; Hedonic; Negative symptoms; Olfaction; Oxytocin; Psychosis