Effects of Oxytocin on Negative Symptoms and Social Cognition in Schizophrenia and Its Possible Mechanisms

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2020-03-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: Male

Summary

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of oxytocin on negative symptoms and social cognitive task performance in schizophrenia. The investigators conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial testing the effects of twice daily intranasal oxytocin treatment for 14 days on psychotic symptoms and social cognition in patients with schizophrenia. The investigators hypothesize that PANSS scores will decline significantly and several social cognition measures will improved significantly or nearly significantly in oxytocin but not placebo recipients.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Shanghai Mental Health Center
• Collaborator: Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Treatments: Oxytocin

Criteria

Inclusion criteria were:

1. aged between 18 and 55 years;

2. DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia, acute schizophreniform disorder, or schizoaffective disorder.

Exclusion criteria were:

1. presence of other psychiatric diagnoses (e.g., depression);

2. active misuse of substance or alcohol;

3. intellectual disability (IQ < 70);

4. a history of neurological disorder.