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document
Nasal oxytocin for social deficits in childhood autism : a randomized controlled trial . The last two decades have witnessed a surge in research investigating the application of oxytocin as a method of enhancing social behaviour in humans . Preliminary evidence suggests oxytocin may have potential as an intervention for autism . We evaluated a 5-day 'live-in ' intervention using a double-blind randomized control trial . 38 male youths ( 7-16 years old ) with autism spectrum disorders were administered 24 or 12 international units ( depending on weight ) intranasal placebo or oxytocin once daily over four consecutive days . The oxytocin or placebo was administered during parent-child interaction training sessions . Parent and child behaviours were assessed using parent reports , clinician ratings , and independent observations , at multiple time points to measure side-effects ; social interaction skills ; repetitive behaviours ; emotion recognition and diagnostic status . Compared to placebo , intranasal oxytocin did not significantly improve emotion recognition , social interaction skills , or general behavioral adjustment in male youths with autism spectrum disorders . The results show that the benefits of nasal oxytocin for young individuals with autism spectrum disorders may be more circumscribed than suggested by previous studies , and suggest caution in recommending it as an intervention that is broadly effective .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
oxytocin
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Intervention_Control
intranasal placebo
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Intervention_Pharmacological
oxytocin
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Outcome_Mental
parent reports , clinician ratings , and independent observations
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Outcome_Mental
measure
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
side-effects
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Outcome_Mental
; social interaction skills ; repetitive behaviours ; emotion recognition and diagnostic status
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Outcome_Mental
emotion recognition , social interaction skills , or general behavioral adjustment
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Participant_Age
childhood
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Participant_Condition
autism :
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Participant_Age
male youths ( 7-16 years old )
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Participant_Condition
autism spectrum disorders
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Participant_Age
young
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Participant_Condition
autism spectrum disorders