Medical Dialogues
  • Dermatology
Login Register
This site is intended for healthcare professionals only
Login Register
  • Medical Jobs
  • Medical Matrimony
  • MD Brand Connect
  • MDTV
    • Breaking News
    • Medical News Today
    • Health News Today
    • Latest
    • Journal Club
    • Medico Legal Update
    • Latest Webinars
    • MD Shorts
    • Health Dialogues
Medical Dialogues
  • Medical News & Guidelines
      • Anesthesiology
      • Cardiology and CTVS
      • Critical Care
      • Dentistry
      • Dermatology
      • Diabetes and Endocrinology
      • ENT
      • Gastroenterology
      • Medicine
      • Nephrology
      • Neurology
      • Obstretics-Gynaecology
      • Oncology
      • Ophthalmology
      • Orthopaedics
      • Pediatrics-Neonatology
      • Psychiatry
      • Pulmonology
      • Radiology
      • Surgery
      • Urology
      • Laboratory Medicine
      • Diet
      • Nursing
      • Paramedical
      • Physiotherapy
  • Health news
      • Doctor News
      • Government Policies
      • Hospital & Diagnostics
      • International Health News
      • MCI News
      • Medical Organization News
      • Medico Legal News
      • NBE News
      • NMC News
  • AYUSH
    • Ayurveda
    • Homeopathy
    • Siddha
    • Unani
    • Yoga
  • State News
      • Andaman and Nicobar Islands
      • Andhra Pradesh
      • Arunachal Pradesh
      • Assam
      • Bihar
      • Chandigarh
      • Chattisgarh
      • Dadra and Nagar Haveli
      • Daman and Diu
      • Delhi
      • Goa
      • Gujarat
      • Haryana
      • Himachal Pradesh
      • Jammu & Kashmir
      • Jharkhand
      • Karnataka
      • Kerala
      • Ladakh
      • Lakshadweep
      • Madhya Pradesh
      • Maharashtra
      • Manipur
      • Meghalaya
      • Mizoram
      • Nagaland
      • Odisha
      • Puducherry
      • Punjab
      • Rajasthan
      • Sikkim
      • Tamil Nadu
      • Telangana
      • Tripura
      • Uttar Pradesh
      • Uttrakhand
      • West Bengal
  • Medical Education
      • Ayush Education News
      • Dentistry Education News
      • Medical Admission News
      • Medical Colleges News
      • Medical Courses News
      • Medical Universities News
      • Nursing education News
      • Paramedical Education News
      • Study Aborad
  • Industry
      • Health Investment News
      • Health Startup News
      • Medical Devices News
      • Pharma News
      • Pharmacy Education News
      • Industry Perspective
  • MDTV
      • Health Dialogues MDTV
      • Health News today MDTV
      • Latest Videos MDTV
      • Latest Webinars MDTV
      • MD shorts MDTV
      • Medical News Today MDTV
      • Medico Legal Update MDTV
      • Top Videos MDTV
      • Health Perspectives MDTV
      • Journal Club MDTV
This site is intended for healthcare professionals only
LoginRegister
Medical Dialogues
LoginRegister
  • Home
  • Medical news & Guidelines
    • Anesthesiology
    • Cardiology and CTVS
    • Critical Care
    • Dentistry
    • Dermatology
    • Diabetes and Endocrinology
    • ENT
    • Gastroenterology
    • Medicine
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstretics-Gynaecology
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Orthopaedics
    • Pediatrics-Neonatology
    • Psychiatry
    • Pulmonology
    • Radiology
    • Surgery
    • Urology
    • Laboratory Medicine
    • Diet
    • Nursing
    • Paramedical
    • Physiotherapy
  • Health news
    • Doctor News
    • Government Policies
    • Hospital & Diagnostics
    • International Health News
    • MCI News
    • Medical Organization News
    • Medico Legal News
    • NBE News
    • NMC News
  • AYUSH
    • Ayurveda
      • Ayurveda Giuidelines
      • Ayurveda News
    • Homeopathy
      • Homeopathy Guidelines
      • Homeopathy News
    • Siddha
      • Siddha Guidelines
      • Siddha News
    • Unani
      • Unani Guidelines
      • Unani News
    • Yoga
      • Yoga Guidelines
      • Yoga News
  • State News
    • Andaman and Nicobar Islands
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Arunachal Pradesh
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chandigarh
    • Chattisgarh
    • Dadra and Nagar Haveli
    • Daman and Diu
    • Delhi
    • Goa
    • Gujarat
    • Haryana
    • Himachal Pradesh
    • Jammu & Kashmir
    • Jharkhand
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Ladakh
    • Lakshadweep
    • Madhya Pradesh
    • Maharashtra
    • Manipur
    • Meghalaya
    • Mizoram
    • Nagaland
    • Odisha
    • Puducherry
    • Punjab
    • Rajasthan
    • Sikkim
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
    • Tripura
    • Uttar Pradesh
    • Uttrakhand
    • West Bengal
  • Medical Education
    • Ayush Education News
    • Dentistry Education News
    • Medical Admission News
    • Medical Colleges News
    • Medical Courses News
    • Medical Universities News
    • Nursing education News
    • Paramedical Education News
    • Study Aborad
  • Industry
    • Health Investment News
    • Health Startup News
    • Medical Devices News
    • Pharma News
      • CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) News
    • Pharmacy Education News
    • Industry Perspective
  • Home
  • Pediatrics and Neonatology
  • Pediatrics and Neonatology News
  • Intranasal oxytocin...

Intranasal oxytocin does not improve social cognition in kids with autism, finds NEJM study.

Dr. Shivi KatariaWritten by Dr. Shivi Kataria Published On 2021-10-14T19:45:10+05:30  |  Updated On 2021-10-14T19:41:15+05:30
Intranasal oxytocin does not improve social cognition in kids with autism, finds NEJM study.

Experimental studies and small clinical trials have suggested that treatment with intranasal oxytocin may reduce social impairment in persons with autism spectrum disorder. In this issue of the NEJM, Sikich et al. have presented the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of intranasal oxytocin, in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The study found no...

Experimental studies and small clinical trials have suggested that treatment with intranasal oxytocin may reduce social impairment in persons with autism spectrum disorder.

In this issue of the NEJM, Sikich et al. have presented the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of intranasal oxytocin, in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The study found no significant impact of oxytocin treatment on measures of social or cognitive functioning over a period of 24 weeks.

Autism spectrum disorder, a common neurodevelopmental disorder with onset in infancy, is characterized by deficits in social functioning and by repetitive–restrictive behaviors, such as repeated body movements, circumscribed interests, or resistance to change in routines. Pharmacologic interventions are limited to the treatment of symptoms, which does not target social deficits.

The potential of the neuropeptide oxytocin as a "pro-social" hormone has gained attention for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Some research suggests that oxytocin modulates the salience and reward properties of social stimuli in animals and humans; however, its effects are diverse and dependent on species, sex, and social context.

Sikich et al conducted a 24-week, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of intranasal oxytocin therapy in children and adolescents 3 to 17 years of age with autism spectrum disorder. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive oxytocin or placebo, administered intranasally, with a total target dose of 48 international units daily.

The primary outcome was the least-squares mean change from baseline on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist modified Social Withdrawal subscale (ABC-mSW), which includes 13 items (scores range from 0 to 39, with higher scores indicating less social interaction). Secondary outcomes included two additional measures of social function and an abbreviated measure of IQ.

The least-squares mean change from baseline in the ABC-mSW score (primary outcome) was −3.7 in the oxytocin group and −3.5 in the placebo group (non-significant). Secondary outcomes generally did not differ between the trial groups. The incidence and severity of adverse events were similar in the two groups.

Thus, there was no effect of intranasal oxytocin therapy on the primary outcome.

Does it mean the end of road for oxytocin?

In an accompanying editorial, Daniel H. Geschwind, M.D., Ph.D. mentions the limitations of this study. " …it may be premature to summarily reject the oxytocin signaling pathway (or efforts to increase social motivation in general) as a potential treatment target in autism spectrum disorder".

"The drug was administered without concomitant standardized behavioral intervention for social skills. Should we expect that increasing motivation alone, without contemporaneous behavioral intervention, would lead to ongoing improvements in social function? Motivation is just one component of the social behavior equation. An analogy would be an attempt to build athletic prowess by the administration of anabolic steroids without simultaneous rigorous physical training", argues Geschwind.

So, what lies ahead?

Looking ahead, as we enter the era of precision medicine in which treatment may be based on genetically informed disease mechanisms, the hope is that we can leverage genetic and molecular biomarkers in trial design and patient selection to improve outcomes in autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Clinical efficacy of oxytocin may require drug administration that is temporally coupled with behavioral intervention.

Source: NEJM:

1. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2103583

2. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMe2110158


autism spectrum disorder Oxytocin 
Dr. Shivi Kataria
Dr. Shivi Kataria

    M.B.B.S, M.D. Psychiatry

    M.B.B.S, M.D. Psychiatry (Teerthanker Mahavir University, U.P.) Currently working as Senior Resident in Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) Dilshad Garden, New Delhi. Actively involved in various research activities of the department.

    Show Full Article
    Next Story
    Similar Posts
    NO DATA FOUND

    Editorial

    Journal Club Today

    Health News Today

    © 2022 All Rights Reserved.
    Powered By: Hocalwire
    X
    X
    We use cookies for analytics, advertising and to improve our site. You agree to our use of cookies by continuing to use our site. To know more, see our Cookie Policy and Cookie Settings.Ok