Joel Yager, MD reviewing Quintana DS et al. Transl Psychiatry 2017 May 23.

Adult men with autism spectrum disorder receiving nasal oxytocin showed some improvement when interpreting facial expressions.

The role of oxytocin in fostering mammalian attachment behaviors has sparked interest in its potential therapeutic use for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Effects have been small in adolescents, and numerous questions remain regarding how best to deliver this substance to the brain and oxytocin's exact effects on social-emotional cognition. This industry-funded, Norwegian, crossover trial enrolled 17 men with ASD, no concurrent psychotic disorder, and no intellectual disability (mean age, 25; mean IQ, 110); five had comorbid mood or anxiety disorder. The three treatments, presented in randomized order at a mean of 13 days apart, were 8 international units (IU) of oxytocin, 24 IU of oxytocin, or placebo, administered via a novel breath-powered system designed to deliver oxytocin to the uppermost posterior nasal cavities, key targets for nose-to-brain transport.

Compared with placebo, lower-dose oxytocin was associated with greater interpretation of neutral faces as happy, with a moderate effect size. The effects with the higher dose were not statistically significant despite higher plasma oxytocin concentrations. Oxytocin at either dose did not differ from placebo in perception of angry faces or theory of mind (i.e., mentalization) or secondary outcomes of speed and accuracy of emotional recognition (tested via a rapidly shown series of faces) or covert emotional awareness (tested via pairs of presented photos).

CITATION(S):

Quintana DS et al. Dose-dependent social-cognitive effects of intranasal oxytocin delivered with novel Breath Powered device in adults with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled double-blind crossover trial. Transl Psychiatry 2017 May 23; 7:e1136. 

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