Oxytocin Treatment to Improve Social Cognition in Young People with Autism

Background: Recent developments in the field of neuroscience suggest the hormone and neuropeptide Oxytocin has a key role in human social behaviour. Laboratory data demonstrates that the administration of Oxytocin Nasal Spray improves face perception, social memory, and performance on empathy tasks in non-clinical samples. Research is now growing to demonstrate a link between oxytocin and some of the social problems found in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Oxytocin may represent a radical new treatment to improve some of the socio-emotional difficulties observed in autistic spectrum populations.

Objectives: The aim of this trial was to conduct a first trial of Oxytocin Nasal Spray to determine its effect on eye gaze, emotion perception and social cognition in Autistic youth.

Methods: In a crossover double blind, randomized controlled trial we gave 20 youth aged between 12 and 20 a single dose of Oxytocin Nasal Spray or a placebo before completing a range of emotion perception, face processing and social cognition tests 45 minutes later. 

Results: Complete results of the trial will be presented at the time of presentation showing how Oxytocin Nasal Spray influences social cognition in Autistic youth.

Conclusions: The implications of these results for Oxytocin Nasal Spray as a treatment to enhance social cognition in Autism will be discussed. Recommendations for future research will also be made.