No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
Use of Intranasal Oxytocin to Treat Adult Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Double Blind Controlled Trial
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 August 2024
Abstract
Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Introduction
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social interaction and restricted interests. It has been reported that oxytocin may improve processing of social cues and emotions in adults with ASD.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects and safety of intranasal oxytocin in this population.
Methods
Thirty-nine patients with ASD were randomly assigned to two groups: one group received intranasal oxytocin and the other group received a placebo, with 24 units administered every 12 hours for 8 weeks. The patients were evaluated using the Autism Quotient (AQ), Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale – Revised (RAADS-R), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQL-BREF) questionnaires at weeks 0, 4, and 8.
Results
The intervention group showed clinical improvements in RAADS-R (P=0.010), social communication subscale of SRS (P=0.002), CGI (P=0.000), physical (P=0.004), psychological (P=0.006), and social relationships (P=0.046) domains of WHOQL-BREF. Improvements reached their maximum at week 4 and were maintained until week 8 (Table 1).Table 1.
Effect of group, time time-group interaction and the effect size
| Time | Group | Time-Group Interaction | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | P-Value | Effect Size (Partial Eta Squared) | F | P-Value | Effect Size(Partial Eta Squared) | F | P-Value | Effect Size(Partial Eta Squared) | |
| AQ | 19.44 | 0.000 | 0.344 | 0.391 | 0.536 | 0.01 | 2.63 | 0.079 | 0.066 |
| RAADS-R | 12.68 | 0.000 | 0.255 | 0.944 | 0.338 | 0.025 | 7.250 | 0.001 | 0.164 |
| SRS | 23.63 | 0.000 | 0.390 | 0.050 | 0.823 | 0.001 | 7.82 | 0.001 | 0.175 |
| WHOQL-BREF -Physical Health | 6.34 | 0.003 | 0.146 | 0.115 | 0.737 | 0.003 | 5.7 | 0.005 | 0.134 |
| WHOQL-BREF -Psychological Health | 8.31 | 0.001 | 0.183 | 0.048 | 0.828 | 0.001 | 6.14 | 0.003 | 0.142 |
| WHOQL-BREF -Social Relationships | 7.72 | 0.001 | 0.173 | 1.052 | 0.312 | 0.028 | 3.64 | 0.031 | 0.090 |
| WHOQL-BREF -Environmental Health | 4.87 | 0.010 | 0.116 | 0.162 | 0.690 | 0.004 | 2.69 | 0.074 | 0.068 |
| CGI | 22.08 | 0.000 | 0.374 | 2.28 | 0.139 | 0.058 | 9.42 | 0.004 | 0.203 |
AQ : Autism Spectrum Quotient, SRS : Social Responsiveness Scale, SCI : Social Communication Interaction, RRB : Restricted interest and repetitive behavior, WHOQL-BREF : World Health Organization Quality of life-BREF, CGI : Clinical Global Impression
Conclusions
The findings of this study suggest that nasal oxytocin therapy can significantly improve social skills and quality of life in individuals with ASD. Further research is needed to determine the timing and scope of oxytocin’s effects across the lifespan.
Disclosure of Interest
None Declared
- Type
- Abstract
- Information
- European Psychiatry , Volume 67 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 32nd European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2024 , pp. S48 - S49
- Creative Commons
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.- Copyright
- © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
You have
Access
Open access
Comments
No Comments have been published for this article.