 Oxytocin for autism spectrum disordersby Benison O'Reilly on Wednesday, June 30th, 2010As reported in the latest issue of Aspects magazine from Autism Spectrum Australia, there is some interesting autism research happening in my home town, Sydney. The Centre for Autism Research, Evaluation, and Service (CARES), at the Brain & Mind Research Institute, recently conducted a small study to determine whether oxytocin nasal spray could enhance emotion understanding in high-functioning teenage males with an ASD. As you probably know, oxytocin is often called the ‘hormone of love’. Although best known for its role in facilitating labour, delivery, and breast-feeding, it is also important in promoting trust, love, and social recognition. In this double-blind*, randomised trial, oxytocin nasal spray or a placebo was administered as a single dose to each of 16 participants in a cross-over design, and their performance was assessed using a standard test of emotion recognition, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task. The researchers found oxytocin nasal spray improved emotion recognition compared with placebo, and the results were published in the April 1 2010 issue of Biological Psychiatry.1 Inspired by this success, the researchers now wish to determine whether oxytocin nasal spray can improve long-term social function in ASD, and hence be used as a treatment for autism. Recruitment is underway for a new trial involving males aged 12 to 18 with ASDs. Participants will use oxytocin spray or a placebo twice a day for eight weeks, with social function assessed before, immediately after, and three months following completion of the trial. CARES is looking for males aged 12–18 years with an ASD to participate in the trial. If you know anyone who may be interested they should contact the Brain & Mind Research Institute on (02) 9351 0881 or email: autismcares@med.usyd.edu.au. Unfortunately my little guy, Joe, is too young for the current trial, but once this study is completed—and if improvements are found—trials in different age groups and females will be conducted. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a good outcome. *A trial in which neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the active drug and who is receiving placebo.
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