Effects of Oxytocin on Emotion Recognition in Schizophrenia: A Randomized Double-Blind Pilot Study

Elissar Andari, Nicholas M Massa, Molly D Fargotstein, Nicholas B Taylor, David M Halverson, Andrew V Owens, Danielle L Currin, Arpita Bhattacharya, Dmitriy Gitman, Bruce C Cuthbert, Larry J Young, Erica J Duncan, Elissar Andari, Nicholas M Massa, Molly D Fargotstein, Nicholas B Taylor, David M Halverson, Andrew V Owens, Danielle L Currin, Arpita Bhattacharya, Dmitriy Gitman, Bruce C Cuthbert, Larry J Young, Erica J Duncan

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that leads to poor social function. Oxytocin (OXT), a neuropeptide involved in social cognition, is a potential therapeutic agent for alleviating social dysfunction. Therefore, we investigated the effects of intranasal oxytocin (IN-OXT) on emotional processes in experimental interactive social contexts in individuals with SCZ.

Methods: In a male-only parallel randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial, we investigated the effects of IN-OXT (24 IU) on visual fixation on pictures of faces and emotion recognition in an interactive ball-tossing game that probed processing of social and nonsocial stimuli.

Results: Intranasal oxytocin enhanced the recognition of emotions during an emotion-based ball-tossing game. This improvement was specific to the game that included social cue processing. Intranasal oxytocin did not affect eye gaze duration or gaze dwell time on faces in these patients.

Conclusions: An acute low dose of IN-OXT had a modest effect on social cue processing and was limited to emotion recognition. Higher doses and long-term trials targeting emotional processing in SCZ may lead to improved social function.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01568528.

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations of interest

None

Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Distribution of throws to each of the three avatars (positive, negative, and neutral) during the Emotion-based Social Ball-Tossing Game (percentage of total throws with standard error).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
A. Player ratings of the negative player during the ES-BTG both at the middle of the game and the end of the game. The * indicates a significant difference between the end of game ratings of the IN-PL and IN-OT at p=0.05. B. Player ratings of the positive player during the ES-BTG both at the middle of the game and the end of the game. The * indicates a significant difference between the end of game ratings of the IN-PL and IN-OT at p=0.04.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Distribution of throws to each of the three avatars (positive, negative, and neutral) during the Valence Non-Social Ball-Tossing Game (percentage of total throws with standard error).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
A. Player ratings of the negative player during the VNS-BTG both at the middle of the game and the end of the game. B. Player ratings of the positive player during the VNS-BTG both at the middle of the game and the end of the game.

Source: PubMed

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