title: A 12-week randomized controlled trial of twice-daily intranasal oxytocin for social cognitive deficits in people with schizophrenia.
abstract: Social cognition is impaired in people with schizophrenia and these deficits are strongly correlated with social functioning. Oxytocin is a hypothalamic peptide that contributes to maternal infant bonding and has diverse pro-social effects in adults. This study tested the hypothesis that 12weeks of intranasal oxytocin will improve social cognitive function in outpatients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Sixty-eight eligible participants were randomized to oxytocin (24IU twice daily) or placebo. Social cognitive function was assessed using the Emotion Recognition-40, Brüne Theory of Mind, Reading the Mind in the Eyes test, Trustworthiness task and Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire at baseline, 6weeks and 12weeks. In addition, social function was assessed using the Specific Levels of Functioning Scale and a role-play test, and psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Fifty-five participants completed the 12-week trial. The study found no evidence for a differential advantage of oxytocin over placebo on social cognition. Among secondary outcomes, there was a modest advantage for oxytocin over placebo on a component of social functioning, although there was also evidence that the placebo group outperformed the oxytocin group on the role-play task. No between-group differences emerged on measures of psychopathology in pre-specified comparisons, but oxytocin showed significant within-group reduction in PANSS negative symptoms and significant between-group improvement in negative symptoms in the schizophrenia subgroup. Further testing is needed to clarify whether oxytocin has therapeutic potential for social cognitive deficits and/or negative symptoms in people with schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, CB#7160, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address: jarskog@med.unc.edu.
authors.forename: L Fredrik
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Jarskog
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, CB#7160, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Cort A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, CB#7160, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biostatistics, CB#7420, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, CB#7160, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biostatistics, CB#7420, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hamer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, CB#7160, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Shane W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Rau
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, CB#7160, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Tonya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, CB#7160, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, CB#3270, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Australian Catholic University, School of Psychology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Penn
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Negative symptoms; Oxytocin; Psychosis; Schizoaffective disorder; Schizophrenia; Social cognition